Washington ? U.S. intelligence agencies believe that Osama bin Laden’s son and potential heir in the al-Qaida organization was killed earlier this year by a Predator missile strike in Pakistan.

Saad bin Laden has been portrayed as the bin Laden son who is closest to his father and most involved in the al-Qaida terrorist network’s activities. But he was never seen as an operational leader.

“There are some indications that he may be dead, but it’s not 100 percent certain,” a U.S. counterterrorism official said. “If he is dead, Saad bin Laden was a small player with a big name. He has never been a major operational figure.”