Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) denied reports about killing one of its Algerian leaders, Mokhtar Belmokhtar, during a US raid on Libya.

SITE Intelligence Group, which monitors radical Islamist organizations in the media, cited a statement by al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb posted on Twitter declaring that Belmokhtar, also known as Khalid Abu al Abbas, is alive

"The mujahid commander Khalid Abu al-Abbas is still alive and well, and he wanders and roams in the land of Allah, supporting his allies and vexing his enemies," said the statement.

Meanwhile, French Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said on Thursday that he is still not confident about the death of Belmokhtar.