Updated

The deputy leader of al-Qaida in Yemen is calling on Saudis to revolt against the king, slamming the use of bases in Saudi Arabia to launch lethal U.S. drone strikes.

Saeed al-Shihri's audio recording appeared to back up al-Qaida denials that he was killed in a drone attack. Al-Shihri calls the Saudi royal family "the greatest agent of America."

The 14-minute audio recording was made public on Wednesday. It was not known when it was recorded.

The Saudi national was reported killed by a U.S. drone strike earlier this year by Yemeni security officials, based on alleged Saudi intelligence.

In the recording, al-Shihri accuses the Saudi ruling family of betraying Muslims in the Arabian Peninsula, which is home to Islam's holiest site in Mecca.