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President Biden on Monday hailed the killing of Al Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri, a key planner of the 9/11 attacks, who the United States targeted in a drone strike over the weekend in Afghanistan.
“Now, justice has been delivered and this terrorist leader is no more. People around the world no longer need to fear the vicious and determined killer,” Biden said.
Biden noted that al-Zawahiri was “deeply involved” in the planning of the terror attacks on September 11, 2001, had put out recent videos calling for his followers to attack the U.S. and allies, and “carved a trail of murder and violence against American citizens, American servicemembers, American diplomats, and American interest.”
“We make 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,” he said, noting that under former Presidents Bush, Obama and Trump, the intelligence community had searched for al-Zawahiri. He was located earlier this year in downtown Kabul.
A drone strike with hellfire missiles was conducted Saturday night eastern time – Sunday morning in Kabul – that targeted and killed al-Zawahiri, who was standing on the balcony of a safehouse in Kabul, according to a senior administration official.
