Roughly a decade after killing Osama Bin Laden, the United States carried out another major counter-terrorism operation to kill his successor Ayman al-Zawahiri, the current leader of al-Qaeda.
While Navy Seals conducted ‘Operation Neptune Star’ to storm Osama Bin Laden’s house in Abbottabad, Pakistan, on May 2, 2011, hellfire missiles fired from a drone saw to the end of Zawahiri on July 30, 2022.
US President Biden addressed the nation to speak about the operation.
What did the President say?
The President started with the reasons for conducting such an operation. He said Zawahiri was Osama Bin Laden’s number two man, deputy, who was deeply involved in the 9/11 attacks, and responsible for the deaths of 2,977 people on American soil.
He said that Ayman al-Zawahiri is also responsible for the bombing of the USS Cole, which killed 17 sailors, and that he also played a key role in bombing the US embassies in Kenya and Tanzania, killing 224 and wounding 4500 others.
Zawahiri has been the Al-Qaeda leader since Osama’s death and has coordinated its branches and even made videos in recent weeks calling for attacks on the US and its allies, President Biden said.
He said justice is delivered, and the terrorist leader is no more.
About the Operation
The mission was carefully planned to minimize harm to others, and a week ago, he gave the final approval, the President said, adding that neither family members nor civilians were harmed in the drone strike.
The President linked the operation with his promise to conduct effective counter-terrorism operations in Afghanistan and beyond.
The US will ensure that Afghanistan will never be a safe haven for terrorism, he said.
He also warned those who tried to harm the US.
‘No matter how long it takes, where you hide, if you pose a threat to our people, the US will find you and take you out,’ said President Joe Biden.