Zawahiri killed

Al Qaeda chief Ayman al-Zawahiri was killed in a US drone strike in Kabul over the weekend. The Egyptian terrorist had led the group for the reason that killing of Osama Bin Laden in 2011. His loss of life, based on a number of American officers, implies that all of the Al Qaeda leaders liable for the 9/11 assaults are both lifeless or behind bars.

Zawahiri, considerably equally to Bin Laden, was tracked down by his spouse and kids. The CIA was reportedly conscious of the community supporting Zawahiri and his household, and was capable of observe his household to a home in Kabul. This 12 months, they have been additionally capable of verify that Zawahiri was additionally current on the identical home and would often spend time alone on a balcony. After discussions, US President Joe Biden accepted an assault utilizing modified Hellfire missiles outfitted with kinetic warheads that fireside blades on affect, fairly than exploding, lowering the chance of bringing down the home and inflicting civilian casualties. Whereas the assault won’t finish Al Qaeda, it’s going to actually cripple the group. The incident additionally offers some vindication for Pakistan. There had lengthy been hypothesis that Zawahiri was hiding out in Pakistan, however information since his killing appears to verify that this was unhealthy intel, since he was often seen on the safehouse. In the meantime, Pakistani officers have denied experiences speculating that Pakistani airspace was used within the assault.

The Taliban have solely condemned the violation of Afghanistan’s sovereignty whereas staying quiet on the truth that one of many world’s most needed males was residing in Kabul and allegedly sustaining contact with the group. Zawahiri’s presence in Kabul doesn’t play effectively for the Taliban of their quest for worldwide recognition. The group had agreed underneath the Doha settlement to chop all ties with terrorist teams, and Al Qaeda, which carried out the assaults that led to US intervention in Afghanistan, was foremost amongst these teams.

Revealed in The Categorical Tribune, August 4^th, 2022.

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