US Drone Takes Out Al Qaeda Leader al-Zawahiri in Kabul, No Civilians were Harmed

By Yehudit Garmaise

The United States today killed the current leader of Al Qaeda and 9/11 mastermind: Ayman Mohammed Rabie al-Zawahiri, who President Biden said, “carved a trail of murder and violence against American citizens, service members, diplomats, and interests.”

In a mission that was rigorously planned to minimize the risk of harm to civilians, today, President Biden authorized the US military to drop a drone airstrike in Kabul, Afghanistan, where al Zawahiri had come out of hiding to see his family.

“None of [al-Zawahiri’s] family members were hurt, and there were no civilian causalities,” Biden said about the successful mission to take down al-Zawahiri.

The Egyptian-born terrorist was responsible for bombing the USS Cole in 2000, which killed 17 American sailors and wounded dozens more. After planning the terrorist attacks that took place on Sept. 11, 2001, al-Zawahiri was responsible for the tragic murders of 2,977 people on American soil, Biden said today at the White House.

After the attacks of 9/11 the US State Department officials offered a reward of $25 million for any information that would help them to al-Zawahiri, who led al-Qaeda from June 2011 until today.

“No matter how long it takes, no matter where you hide, if you are a threat to our people, the US will find you and take you out,” President Biden said after taking down the Egyptian-born terrorist who orchestrated terrorist attacks in North America, Europe, Asia, and Africa.

“Al Zawahiri also played a key role in the bombings of the US embassies in Kenya and Tanzania: killing 224 and wounding more than 4,500 others,” Biden said. “While in hiding, al Zawahiri coordinated al-Qaeda’s branches, sending priorities, and providing operational guidance that called for and inspired attacks against US targets.

“Now justice has been delivered. This terrorist leader is no more.

“People around the world no longer have to fear this vicious and determined killer.

“The US continues to demonstrate our capacity to defend the American people against those who seek to do us harm.”

Biden closed by saying that the US will continue to conduct effective counter-terrorism operations in Afghanistan, which he said, “will never again become a terrorist safe-haven.”

In response to terrorist attacks, Biden said the US, “will continue to protect the innocent, defend liberty, and keep the light of freedom burning as a beacon for the rest of the entire world.”

A great and defining truth about Americans, the president said, “is that we do not break, we never give in, and we never back down.” 

Photo Credit: Official White House Photo by Adam Schultz