Al-Qaeda leader killed in U.S. airstrike in Kabul

A top Al-Qaeda leader has been successfully killed by a U.S. strike

President Joe Biden said that the U.S. conducted a drone strike that killed al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri in Afghanistan.

The CIA counterterrorism strike occurred in Afghanistan on Sunday.

Biden says the operation was successful and there were no civilian casualties.

“He carved a trail of murder and violence against American citizens, American servicemembers, American diplomats and American interests,” 

BIDEN SAYS

“We made it clear again tonight that 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 SAYS

Sunday’s drone strike is the first known CIA counterterrorism operation since Kabul fell to the Taliban last year.

Al-Zawahiri was believed to be a physician and founder of the Egyptian Islamic Jihad before ascending to the top spot in the al-Qaeda network.

He was previously indicted by the U.S. government for his alleged role in the 1998 bombings of the U.S. Embassies in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, and Nairobi, Kenya.

The State Department had previously offered a reward of up to $25 million for information leading to his apprehension.