```U.S. government officials allege that, as well as being a senior recruiter and motivator, he was centrally involved in planning terrorist operations for theย Islamistย militant groupย al-Qaeda,[7][8][9][10][11]ย but have not released evidence that could support this claim.[11]ย Al-Awlaki became the firstย U.S. citizenย to be targeted and killed by a U.S.ย drone strikeย without the rights of due process being afforded.[12][13]ย Presidentย Barack Obamaย ordered the strike.```
