Anwar al-Awlaki was described as "chief of external operations" for Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP).
Awlaki was a western-educated American citizen who spoke fluent English and rejected his adopted country for the militant ideology of al-Qaeda.
"Don't consult with anybody in the killing of Americans. Fighting the devil doesn't require consultation or prayers seeking divine guidance," he once said. "They are the party of the devils."
Al Jazeera's Khadijah Magardie looks back at his life.