Kabul top Al-Qaida Leader Killed in Drone Attack

Ayman al Zawahiri, one among the perpetrators the 9-11 attacks that left nearly 3,000 dead in New York and at the Pentagon in Pennsylvania, was killed yesterday by U.S.-led drone missiles in Afghanistan’s capital, President Joe Biden announced.

Zawahiri was killed in an over-the-horizon operation in downtown Kabul, where he was residing as a guest of the Taliban. Two Hellfire missiles struck Zawahiri’s house in a precision-based counterterrorism operation at 6/18 a.m. Kabul. Zawahiri was the only casualty. A senior administration official said that Zawahiri was the sole victim of our intelligence sources and methods, which included multiple streams intelligence. “His death is a major blow to al-Qaida. It will degrade the group’s ability to operate, even against the U.S. homeland.”
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Zawahiri headed the al-Qaida terror network after Osama bin Laden was killed in an attack on the USS Cole in Yemen, May 2, 2011. Zawahiri had served as bin Laden’s deputy and helped plan terror attacks on the United States and Americans overseas, including the attack on the USS Cole in Yemen in 2000 that killed 17 sailors and wounded many others and the attacks on U.S. embassies in Tanzania and Kenya in August 1998 that killed 224 people and wounded more than 4,500. “He carved a trail of murder and violence against American citizens, American service members, American diplomats and American interests,” Biden said in a statement.

Biden stated that Zawahiri had been responsible for al-Qaida’s branches all over the world since bin Laden’s death. This included setting priorities and providing operational guidance. This led to attacks against U.S. targets.

“Now, justice is done, and this terrorist leader has been eliminated,” the president stated. “People around this world no longer have to be afraid of the vicious and determined killer. The United States continues its commitment to the defense of American citizens against those who seek harm.

A defense official said that Zawahiri had been found by counterterrorism professionals who worked hard, patiently, and persistently. The official said that “our ability to act on this effectively was made possible by quick and decisive intervention by the president once it was certain Zawahiri’s location was known and that we could conduct operations that minimized civilian casualties.” “We make it very clear tonight that no matter the time or whereabouts you hide, if there is a threat against our people, the United States of America will find you and take your place.”

Biden had ended the U.S. military mission against Afghanistan in Afghanistan almost exactly one year ago. He stated at the White House that he had made the decision that after 20 years’ of war, the United States did not need thousands of soldiers on the ground in Afghanistan to protect America against terrorists who want to do us harm. “And I made a promise that we would continue to conduct effective counterterrorism operations throughout Afghanistan and beyond. We’ve done it.”

Antony Blinken, Secretary to the United States, stated in writing that the Taliban had violated the terms of its agreement by hosting al-Qaida’s leader. “By hosting and sheltered the leader al-Qaida Kabul, the Taliban grossly breached the Doha Agreement.” The Taliban also repeatedly assured the world that they would not permit terrorists to use Afghan territory in order to threaten the security of other nations. They also betrayed the Afghan people and their own stated desire for recognition from and normalization with the international community.”

Blinken said that despite the Taliban’s unwillingness or inability to abide by their commitments, the United States will continue to support the Afghan people with robust humanitarian assistance and to advocate for the protection of their human rights, especially of women and girls. Source: https://nov.link/r/more-news