Al-Qaeda Leader, Ayman al-Zawahiri Killed in CIA Drone Strike
- CNA/REUTERS/SITE Monitoring Service via Reuters.
VIVA – Leader of Al-Qaeda, Ayman al-Zawahiri was reportedly killed in a CIA drone strike in Afghanistan. Zawahiri's death is claimed to be the biggest hit to the Al Qaeda terrorist group since its founder Osama bin Laden was killed in 2011.
Ayman al-Zawahiri is an Egyptian surgeon who helped coordinate the September 11, 2001 attacks. The attacks have killed nearly 3,000 people.
One of the US official, speaking on condition of anonymity said the CIA carried out a drone strike in the Afghanistan capital Kabul on Sunday.
 "Over the weekend, the United States carried out counterterrorism operations against significant Al Qaeda targets in Afghanistan," a senior administration official said.
"The operation was successful and there were no civilian casualties," the official added.
Ayman al-Zawahiri (kanan)
- aljazeera.com
President Joe Biden will deliver a speech Monday at 7:30 pm on what the White House describes as a "successful counter-terrorism operation."
It was not clear how the United States, which has no military forces on the ground, confirmed that Al-Qaeda leader had been killed. There have been rumors of Zawahiri's death several times in recent years, and he has long been reported to be in poor health.
His death raises questions about whether Zawahiri received protection from the Taliban after the takeover of Kabul in August 2021.
The drone strike was the first known US strike in Afghanistan since US troops and diplomats left the country in August 2021.
In a statement, Taliban spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid confirmed that the attack took place. The Taliban also strongly condemned the action, calling it a violation of "international principles."
A loud explosion echoed across Kabul Sunday morning.
 "A house was hit by a rocket in Sherpoor. There were no casualties because the house was empty," Abdul Nafi Takor, a spokesman for the Taliban's interior ministry remarked, earlier.
