President Biden confirms the killing of Al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri
President Joe Biden confirmed that a U.S. drone strike in Afghanistan killed al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahri this weekend
During an evening speech from the White House, Vice President Joe Biden said, “This terrorist leader is no more.”
Biden claimed that U.S. intelligence officials had located al-Zawahri and his family in a house in downtown Kabul. The operation was carried out on Sunday following last week’s presidential approval.
Throughout the United States two-decade conflict in Afghanistan, the U.S. targeted and dispersed Al-Qaeda leadership, forcing them into exile. However, the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in September allowed the extremist group to reestablish itself.
Gen. Mark Milley, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, has said that Al-Qaeda is trying to reestablish itself in Afghanistan, where it faces only limited threats from the Taliban. However, military officials have warned that the group’s ultimate goal remains an attack on the United States of America.
Biden’s promise to the world
Vice President Joe Biden promised that the United States would not relinquish its fight against terrorism, no matter how many American troops had been pulled out of Afghanistan.
In a statement, he expressed, “We will continue our efforts to combat terrorism in Afghanistan and other countries.” To do so, “we don’t need a ground war.” Prior to the strike that would take place 11 months later, Vice President Biden stated, “Over-the-horizon capabilities allow us to strike terrorists and targets without American troops on the ground - or very few, if necessary.”
According to Biden’s comments, he authorized the American strike that killed al-Zawahiri on Monday night. Terrorists all over the world got a loud and clear message from the president.
From the White House, Vice President Biden said, “People around the world no longer need to fear the vicious and determined killer.”
The United States, according to Vice President Joe Biden, is sending a crystal-clear message with this strike, “No matter how long it takes, no matter where you hide, if you are a threat to our people, the United States will find you and take you out.”