United States President Joe Biden has announced that a precision drone-attack by the US in downtown Kabul has killed Al-Qaeda Chief Ayman Al-Zawahiri, who had helped orchestrate the September 11 attacks.
Al-Zawahiri was an Egyptian surgeon and had a $25 million bounty on his head for his role in the September 11, 2001 attacks in New York that led to the death of nearly 3,000 people.
According to US officials who spoke to Reuters on the condition of anonymity, Zawahiri was killed when he stepped out on the balcony of his safe house in Kabul on Sunday morning. It was here that he was killed by ‘hellfire’ missiles from a US drone.
“Now justice has been delivered, and this terrorist leader is no more,” American President Biden said during a press address Monday. “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.”
Biden said that the attack had been authorized by him, and no civilians were killed in the ‘precision’ strike.
Previously, Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid had confirmed and condemned the strike that took place on Sunday, calling it a ‘violation of international principles’.
Zawahiri had succeeded Osama Bin Laden after his death.
