The US believes late al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden's son Hamza bin Laden is dead, a US official told CNN on Wednesday.

The official said the US had a role in his death but did not provide details. The official added that the US government recently received evidence that it believes corroborates his death.

The New York Times reported that Hamza bin Laden had been killed in an operation within the last two years.

Earlier this year the US State Department called bin Laden, who is believed to be in his early 30s, an "emerging" leader in the terror group al Qaeda, offering a million-dollar reward for information leading to his capture.

The New York Times, citing two US officials, said "the United States government had a role in the operation that killed the younger Mr. bin Laden, but it was not clear precisely what that role was."

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CNN terrorism analyst Paul Cruickshank said one thing is puzzling researchers who are closely tracking al Qaeda: "If Hamza bin Laden has indeed been dead for months, you would expect al Qaeda to have released some form of eulogy before today. The fact they haven't is highly unusual, given his status in the group."

NBC News was first to report that the US government had assessed Hamza bin Laden to be dead.

President Donald Trump declined to comment Wednesday when asked about the reports. The Department of Defense also declined to comment.

The State Department said items seized from the elder bin Laden's hiding place in Pakistan during the Navy SEAL raid that resulted in his death indicated he was grooming Hamza bin Laden to replace him as al Qaeda's leader.