WASHINGTON – The U.S. military confirmed that an al-Qaida operative suspected in the 2000 suicide bombing attack on the USS Cole was killed in Yemen in a New Year's Day airstrike.

"U.S. CENTCOM has confirmed that Jamal al-Badawi was killed in a precision strike," U.S. Central Command said in a tweet Sunday. "Jamal al-Badawi was an al Qaeda operative involved in the USS Cole bombing. U.S. forces confirmed the results of the strike following a deliberate assessment process."

On Friday, Navy Capt. Bill Urban, the U.S. Central Command spokesman, had said U.S. forces were aware of the reports of al-Badawi's death and were trying to confirm the death.

Al-Badawi was indicted in 2003 on 50 terrorism-related counts, including the murder of U.S. citizens and military personnel, Urban said. The alleged terrorist escaped from Yemeni custody twice, once in 2004 and again in 2007, and the FBI had offered a $5 million reward for information leading to his arrest.

Trump tweeted his enthusiasm at the news on Sunday, writing, "Our GREAT MILITARY has delivered justice for the heroes lost and wounded in the cowardly attack on the USS Cole."

On Oct. 12, 2000, two suicide bombers drove a small boat loaded with explosives into the hull of the USS Cole while the destroyer refueled in Yemen. Seventeen sailors were killed in the attack.