Ayman al-Zawahiri killed, Biden says; The al-Qaeda leader was number two under Osama bin Laden.

Al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri was killed over weekends in drone strike in US Counterterrorism Operation, President Joe Biden announced Monday night.

“He paved the way of murder and violence against American citizens, American military personnel, American diplomats and American interests,” Biden said. in his brief remarks from the balcony of the White House. “Currently, justice delivered. And this terrorist leader is not more.”

President says al-Zawahiri was killed in Kabul.

“After a relentless search for Zawahiri for years under Presidents Bush, Obama and Trump, our intelligence community located Zawahiri earlier than this year”, – said Mr. Biden. – He moved to the center of Kabul to reunite with members of his direct family.”

United States government several independent sources confirming the location of al-Zawahiri in a safe house, senior administration official told reporters on a call Monday morning. The strike was result of careful, patient and persistent work representatives of the counterterrorism service over well of months and years.

The President said that after he considered “clear and compelling evidence of al-Zawahiri location, he “sanctioned a precision strike that would take him out of battlefield times and for everything.” He gave his final “follow him” approval one a week ago.

Al-Zawahiri was eventually taken out drone at 9:48 pm ET on Saturday when it was on balcony of shelter and family members were in different rooms of in house.

House in Kabul where the US drone attack al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri killed on July 30, 2022

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“Nobody of his family members were injured, there were no civilian casualties,” the president said. government has a high level of confidence is not one still been killed in strike according to senior administration official.

senior administration official said the president had regular updated as USA government zeroed in on al-Zawahiri. Once the hideout was discovered, the President wanted to understand more about layout of shelter doors and windows to avoid other victims. At a meeting on July 25, the president authorized precise, individual air strike that will minimize the loss of civilian life to the extent possible, senior administration official said.

With al-Zawahiri deathall of best plotters of in September 11, 2001 attacks now either dead or captured.

FBI updated his “Most Wanted Terrorist” poster on Monday with Al-Zawahiri’s status: “Dead.”

FBI Most Wanted Terrorist poster for Ayman al-Zawahiri updated note that he passed away on August 1, 2022.

FBI


The President spoke of his visits to Shanksville, Pennsylvania and Ground Zero in New York last year on 20th anniversary of September 11 attacks, and he said that when he saw the names of those who died in in attack engraved in bronze was a reminder of American oath made “never forget”.

Mr. Biden expressed hope that the measures taken against al-Zawahiri “will bring one more measure of closure” for those who lost loved ones on 9/11.

The strike came almost one year after the withdrawal of American troops from Afghanistanwho wasn’t lost on the president. The Biden administration has long made argument that he can continue to fight terrorist threats to the American people without boots on Earth in Afghanistan, fromover horizon.”

President Joe Biden addresses the nation on in killing of Al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri in usa drone strike, on August 1, 2022

POOL / REUTERS


“When I finished my military mission in Afghanistan almost year back, i made a decision that in 20 years of war, the United States no longer needed thousands of boots on Earth in Afghanistan will protect America from terrorists who strive to do us harm,” Mr. Biden said. – I made a promise to an american people that we will continue to conduct effective counter-terrorism operations in Afghanistan and beyond. We have done just what.”

Two familiar sources of intelligence with the case file stated that the strike had been called out CIA.

The president, who positive test result with a rebound case of COVID-19delivered his statement outdoors from the balcony of the White House.

Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid on Monday confirmed drone strike in Kabul. He said that the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan views it as clear violation of international principles.

US secretary of State Anthony Blinken said on Monday that by harboring al-Zawahiri in Afghanistan, “The Taliban grossly violated the Doha Agreement and repeated assurances world that they won’t allow The territory of Afghanistan will be used by terrorists to threaten security of Another countries.”

Former CIA acting director and CBS News correspondent Michael Morell said after the president’s speech that “this is really hard for believe me [al-Zawahiri] was in Kabul without knowing of at least some of Taliban leadership.”

Noting that al-Zawahiri “lived there quite openly without trying to hide”, Morell said that the strike also does clear any other members of al-Qaeda in Afghanistan that they still have to worry about their security despite fact that the US no longer has troops there.

Al-Zawahiri has long been wanted human. After the September 11, 2001 attacks, then-President George W. Bush published list of 22 most wanted terrorists, with al-Zawahiri on top of in list together with Osama bin Laden.

For years, al-Zawahiri was known as the “second man” in al-Qaeda, but many analysts believe he was actually the brains behind bin Laden operation.

Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, leftsitting with his adviser Ayman al-Zawahiri during an interview with Pakistani journalist in the unknown location in Afghanistan for article published November 10, 2001

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Bin Laden was killed by the US special strength in 2011, but al-Zawahiri avoided attempts on his life and international hunt for him death.

Zawahiri continued to post video messages, including one on September 11, 2021, although it was not clear if this entry was new or old. There were rumors for years since he died and the US offered $25 million for information what could lead to his concerns.

Andrew Ansbrough, President of FDNY Firefighters Association, in Monday’s statement thanked Mr Biden for “We help you take it to the next level. of closure for all those affected by these attacks.”

– Arden Fary, Nancy Cordes, Andres Triay, Ahmad Muktar, Pat Milton and Olivia Gazis of CBS News contributed to this report.

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