August 1, 2022
The leader of al Qaeda is dead after a us drone strike in Afghanistan over the weekend.
The president just announced 71-year-old Ayman al-Zawahiri – one of the world’s most wanted terrorist — was the target. He has been known as a leader and the voice of al Qaeda ever since the death of Osama bin Laden in 2011. He was also instrumental in the September 11 attack, bombing of the USS Cole in 2000, and several attacks at US embassies in other countries.
President Biden just announced al-Zawahiri was killed in a drone strike and was hit from his safe house in downtown Kabul. The president said there were no civilian casualties.
This mission proves that the United States does have significant “over the horizon” capabilities. After 20 years — when the United States controversially pulled out of Afghanistan last summer, both the us military and intelligence sectors said we still had what’s called “over the horizon” capabilities. That means the us could still conduct significant and accurate strikes on specific targets in Afghanistan without actually having boots on the ground. Today’s announcement proves that is true.
There is no known successor in line to take over al Qaeda but since the Taliban took over the country, reports show al Qaeda’s recruitment numbers have increased significantly.
Watch the President’s marks tonight on this strike here.
Read the Islamic Emirate’s statement confirming the strike here.
