Al Qaeda chief Ayman al-Zawahiri killed by US drone strike in Afghanistan, Biden says | US Information

Al Qaeda chief Ayman al-Zawahiri has been killed by a US air strike in Afghanistan, US President Joe Biden has mentioned.

Addressing the nation from a balcony exterior the White Home’s Blue Room, Mr Biden mentioned “justice has been delivered” after permitting the assault that killed the person who was one of many masterminds of the fear assaults. 9/11.

“This terrorist chief is not any extra,” Biden added, earlier than expressing hope the killing would deliver “one other measure of closure” to the households of the almost 3,000 folks killed within the assault. September 11, 2001.

The president added that Afghanistan will “by no means grow to be a protected haven for terrorists” after the assault was carried out almost a 12 months after the withdrawal of US troops from the nation.

The Egyptian terrorist chief was standing on the balcony of a protected home in downtown Kabul on Sunday morning when he was killed by two hellish rockets launched from a drone.

Mr. Biden mentioned no members of the 71-year-old’s household had been injured and there have been no civilian casualties.

“The US continues to reveal our dedication and talent to guard the American folks from those that search to hurt us,” the president mentioned.

“We make it clear once more tonight that irrespective of how lengthy it takes, irrespective of the place you disguise, if you’re a risk to our folks, america will discover you and get you out. “

The FBI has offered $25 million (£20 million) for “info resulting in the arrest or conviction” of the terrorist chief, whose loss of life was the largest blow to al Qaeda since its founder. Osama bin Laden was killed by US particular forces in 2011.

Based on a senior US administration official, the operation to kill al-Zawahiri was a part of a plan that lasted many months.

Mr. Biden was first knowledgeable of a proposed operation to kill the al Qaeda chief on July 1 of this 12 months.

However it was a lot earlier final 12 months when intelligence instructed that his spouse and youngsters had moved to Kabul. He and his household are believed to have been in hiding in Pakistan up till that time.

The household was taken to a protected home, the place al-Zawahiri was finally found.

He was monitored for a number of months and his life sample was recorded. He by no means left the home however did spend time on the balcony, the place he was finally killed.

Learn extra: From middle-class physician to world’s most wished man: Who’s Ayman al-Zawahiri?

On July 25, an in depth proposal was introduced to Mr. Biden, the administration official mentioned, asking for “care at a degree of element” due to its concentrate on taking it “step-by-step… to attenuate civilian casualties”.

Intelligence allowed the People to review the development of the home to make sure that civilian casualties had been prevented.

The official added that al-Zawahiri’s loss of life was “a significant blow to al Qaeda and can degrade its means to function”.

Richard Moore, head of the UK’s MI6 intelligence company, mentioned his ideas had been with the households of these killed by al-Zawahiri’s atrocities.

Mr. Moore tweeted: “Onerous work expertly carried out by America’s allies. three a long time.”

Saudi Arabia additionally welcomed Biden’s announcement.

“Zawahiri is thought to be one of many leaders of terrorism who commanded the planning and execution of heinous terrorist actions in america and Saudi Arabia,” state media reported, quoted an announcement from the Ministry of International Affairs.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid confirmed that an assault befell and strongly condemned it, calling it a violation of “worldwide rules”.

Talking on August 31, 2021, after the final US troops left Afghanistan, Mr Biden mentioned the US wouldn’t hand over the battle on terror in that nation or wherever else.

“We’ll keep the struggle towards terrorism in Afghanistan and different nations,” he mentioned.

“We don’t need to struggle on land to do this.”

Previewing the assault that will occur 11 months later, Mr Biden mentioned on the time: “Now we have what’s referred to as an over-the-horizon functionality, which suggests we will assault terrorists and goal with out American assist – or little or no, if mandatory.”

Andrew Ansbro, president of the FDNY Uniformed Firefighters Affiliation and a 9/11 survivor, mentioned in an announcement: “Whereas virtually 21 years have handed because the tragedy of the Black Days, That night time, the point out of those assaults nonetheless brings unhappiness to so many, together with the households of 343 New York Metropolis firefighters who had been introduced in that day, and the households of 290 firefighters. New York Metropolis handed away from sickness associated to 9/11.

“This motion by america is a reminder to each single terrorist concerned within the plot of those assaults that the American folks will always remember.”