The Pentagon says an Al-Qaeda leader has been killed in an air strike in Afghanistan.

Qari Yasin apparently died in the US operation in Paktika province earlier this month.

US officials say he was behind a bombing at a Marriott Hotel in Pakistan in 2008 that killed dozens and included two US service members, as well as an attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team's bus in 2009.

In a statement, the Pentagon said that the strike took place on the 19th of  March in Paktika province and killed Qari Yasin, "a well-known al-Qaeda terrorist leader," who had ties to the Tehreek-e-Taliban, also known as the Pakistan Taliban.

US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis also released a statement saying that "the death of Qari Yasin is evidence that terrorists who defame Islam and deliberately target innocent people will not escape justice."

Pakistan's Counter-Terrorism Department had offered a reward for Yasin, saying he was involved in the 2009 bus attack in the northeastern city of Lahore, allegedly organised by militant group Lashkar-e-Jhangvi.

The attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team bus led to Pakistan's exclusion from the role of hosting major international tours.

At least ten gunmen fired on the bus with rifles, grenades and rockets, wounding six players and a British coach, and killing eight Pakistanis.