Leader of militant group, Ansar Beit al-Maqdis, was killed along with three senior members overnight when Egypt security forces opened fire on their car in the Sinai Peninsula

Leader of militant group, Ansar Beit al-Maqdis, was killed along with three senior members overnight when Egypt security forces opened fire on their car in the Sinai Peninsula, officials said early Friday.

Several high-ranking security officials confirmed the death of Shadi el-Menei, considered to be the head of the Sinai-based Ansar Beit al-Maqdis (Partisans of Jerusalem), an Al-Qaeda inspired militant group that has spearheaded a wave of attacks targeting security forces since July.

Such attacks have been carried out in retaliation to a state crackdown on ousted President Mohammad Mursi supporters that has left more than 1,400 killed and at least 15,000 jailed since the overthrow.