Atlanta, United States (CNN) — US President Joe Biden announced on Tuesday the death of al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri, and said that “justice has been served” following the United States killed al-Zawahiri in a drone strike.
Biden added, in a letter from the White House, that “the terrorist leader no longer exists following he was killed in a drone strike, on Saturday,” and continued, “People around the world no longer need to fear the evil killer.”
The US President stressed that his country “continues to demonstrate our resolve and our ability to defend the American people once morest those who seek to do us harm.”
Biden stated that Al-Zawahiri “made videos, in recent weeks, calling on his followers to attack the United States and our allies, and now justice has been served and this terrorist leader no longer exists.”
And the US president sent a stern warning to “anyone who seeks to harm America,” as Biden said: “We have made it clear once more tonight that no matter how long it takes, no matter where you hide, if you represent a threat to our people, the United States will find upon you”.
The US president stated that the precision strike once morest al-Zawahiri, this weekend, was the result of “extraordinary persistence and skill” from US intelligence.
“Intelligence located al-Zawahiri earlier this year, as he moved to downtown Kabul and reunited with his family,” he added.
“After carefully looking at the clear and convincing evidence on Al-Zawahiri’s website, I have allowed a precision strike that will take him off the battlefield forever,” Biden said.
That mission, Biden said, “was carefully planned to strictly minimize the risk of harm to other civilians,” and was approved just a week in advance.
The strike comes just a year following Biden ordered the withdrawal of US forces from Afghanistan, prompting Taliban forces to quickly seize control of the country.
“When I ended our military mission in Afghanistan nearly a year ago, I made the decision that following 20 years of war, the United States no longer needed thousands of soldiers on the ground in Afghanistan to protect America from terrorists who seek to harm us, and I made a promise to the people,” the US president said. We continue to conduct effective counter-terrorism operations in Afghanistan and beyond.”
