WASHINGTON (KNX) — President Joe Biden announced the death of Al Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri on Monday, saying the U.S. killed the extremist leader in a drone strike in Afghanistan over the weekend.
"al-Zawahiri was Bin Laden's leader. He was with him the whole time," Biden said during Monday's press briefing. "He was his number two men as Deputy at the time terrorist attack of 911. He was deeply involved in 9/11."
Biden went on to call him "the mastermind behind attacks against Americans", adding that during the attack none of his family was hurt and there were no civilian causalities.
Analysts say it’s the most significant blow to the militant group’s leadership since its founder, Osama bin Landen, was killed in a raid ordered by former President Barack Obama in 2011.
According to U.S. intelligence, Zawahiri helped coordinate the Sept. 11, 2001 plane hijackings that killed roughly 3,000 Americans. Officials also accused him of helping to plan the Oct. 2000 attack on the USS Cole in Yemen and the Aug. 1998 bombings of U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania.
Three sources confirmed to CBS News Ayman al-Zawahiri was killed in a CIA counterterrorism drone strike in the Afghanistan capital Kabul on Sunday.
“The operation was successful and there were no civilian casualties,” an official without authorization to speak publicly told Reuters in a statement. The Taliban also confirmed a strike took place in a statement, calling it a violation of “international principles.”
It’s unclear if the Taliban had offered al-Zawahiri safekeeping in the Afghanistan capital after it took control of major cities and installed its leaders in the presidential palace as the U.S. departed the country following a 20-year war.
Follow KNX News 97.1 FM
Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok
Related
Related
