Hamza bin Laden, the son and potential successor of late al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, has been killed in a US counter-terrorism operation, United States President Donald Trump has confirmed.

An official statement from the White House said: “Hamza bin Ladin, the high-ranking al-Qa’ida member and son of Usama bin Ladin, was killed in a United States counterterrorism operation in the Afghanistan/Pakistan region.

“The loss of Hamza bin Ladin not only deprives al-Qa’ida of important leadership skills and the symbolic connection to his father, but undermines important operational activities of the group.

“Hamza bin Ladin was responsible for planning and dealing with various terrorist groups.”

The high-ranking al Qaeda figure was rumoured to have been killed in August.

The New York Times reported it had spoken to two officials who confirmed his death and said the US had played a role in the operation “but it was not clear how”.

When asked about the claims at the time, President Trump declined to comment.

Hamza is believed to be about 30 years old and is the 15th of Osama bin Laden’s 56 children.

Former al Qaeda leader Osama was killed in a US special forces raid in 2011.

His son Hamza became an increasingly prominent figure in the organisation and the US government’s Rewards for Justice Program says he has “threatened attacks against the United States and allies”.