Anti-terrorist strike against Osama bin Laden’s successor!
The United States killed al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri (71) in a drone attack over the weekend. This is reported, among other things, by “New York Times” and the political magazine “politico” (belongs to Axel Springer like BILD) with reference to US circles.
“Over the weekend, the United States conducted an anti-terrorist operation against a key al-Qaeda target in Afghanistan,” a senior administration official said in Washington Monday. “The operation was successful and there were no civilian casualties.” No further details were initially given.
Al-Zawahiri (right) was one of Osama bin Laden’s (left) key advisors, rose to become Al Qaeda leader after his death
US President Joe Biden (79) wanted to comment on Monday evening (1.30 a.m. German time), the White House announced. Biden should therefore speak on a balcony of the government headquarters. The President is currently in isolation due to an infection with the corona virus.
Al-Zawahiri was believed to be the successor to Osama bin Laden, the mastermind behind the September 11, 2001 attacks on four passenger planes in the United States that killed over 3,000 people. Bin Laden was killed in 2011 by elite US soldiers in Pakistan.
According to the reports, the current strike against Al-Zawahiri was NOT carried out by the military, but by the US foreign intelligence agency CIA.
The attack came about a year after NATO troops withdrew from Afghanistan. In the course of the withdrawal, the Taliban terrorists had seized power in the country again.
Shortly thereafter, in September, CIA chief David Cohen (59, then CIA Vice President) warned: “We are already seeing the first signs of a possible move by Al Qaeda to Afghanistan.” Now their highest leader was killed on the spot.
More at BILD.