The United States killed Al Qaeda leader Ayman al Zawahiri in an air operation in Afghanistan, US media reported on Monday (01.08.2022), citing government officials.
According to The Washington Post and the CNN television network, Al Zawahiri, a 71-year-old Egyptian national, died in a drone strike.
Both media indicated that the terrorist leader lost his life in an operation carried out by the CIA over the weekend. For the time being, the US government has not confirmed Al Zawahiri’s death.
President Joe Biden is expected to address the nation at 7:30 p.m. local time (11:30 p.m. GMT) to discuss a “successful counter-terrorist operation,” a White House official said in a statement.
Al Zawahiri was the replacement for Osama bin Laden following his death in 2011 in a US operation in Pakistan, and was one of the most wanted terrorists.
Al Zawahiri and Bin Laden oversaw the September 11, 2001, attacks on the United States.
gs (efe, Archyde.com, afp)