The 71-year-old was believed to be the principle strategist who steered Al-Qaeda operations
New Delhi:
Al-Qaeda Chief Ayman al-Zawahiri, one of many world’s most needed terrorists and a mastermind of the September 11, 2001 assaults, was killed in a drone strike carried out by the US within the Afghan capital Kabul.
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In a televised handle, US President Joe Biden mentioned that he hoped Zawahiri’s demise would deliver “closure” to households of the three,000 folks killed within the United States on 9/11.
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He mentioned that there have been no civilian casualties within the operation that was carried out over the weekend. “Justice has been delivered, and this terrorist leader is no more”, the US president mentioned.
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“The United States continues to demonstrate our resolve and our capacity to defend the American people against those who seek to do us harm. Tonight we made clear: No matter how long it takes. No matter where you try to hide. We will find you,” he later tweeted.
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Officials mentioned Zawahiri was on the balcony of his Kabul residence when he was focused with two Hellfire missiles on July 31, including that President Biden gave his go-ahead to the operation on July 25.
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Apparent images of the constructing present home windows blown out on one flooring, however the remainder of the constructing appeared utterly intact. Members of Zawahiri’s household have been current on the dwelling, however “were purposely not targeted and were not harmed,” officers mentioned.
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US officers known as Zawahiri’s presence within the Afghan capital Kabul a “clear violation” of a deal the Taliban had signed with the US in Doha in 2020 that paved the best way for the US withdrawal from Afghanistan.
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Under the 2020 Doha deal, the Taliban promised to not permit Afghanistan for use once more as a launchpad for terrorism, however specialists consider the group by no means broke their ties with Al-Qaeda.
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In an announcement, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid confirmed {that a} strike passed off on Sunday in Kabul. He strongly condemned the operation, calling it a violation of “international principles.”
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Zawahiri had been on the run for 20 years for the reason that 9/11 assaults. He took over Al-Qaeda after Osama bin Laden was killed by US particular forces in Pakistan in 2011, and had a $25 million US bounty on his head.
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Experts say the 71-year-old lacked the potent charisma that helped bin Laden rally extremists all over the world, however willingly channelled his analytical expertise into the Al-Qaeda trigger.