Killing of Ayman al-Zawahiri
| Part of the War on terror and Afghan conflict | |
| Date | 31 July 2022 |
|---|---|
| Time | c. 6:18 am[1] (UTC+04:30) |
| Location | Sherpur, Kabul, Afghanistan |
| Coordinates | 34°32′03″N 69°10′33″E / 34.53417°N 69.17583°E |
| Type | Murder |
| Executed by | Central Intelligence Agency's Special Activities Center |
Ayman al-Zawahiri, the second leader of the Islamist group al-Qaeda, was killed in Afghanistan on July 31, 2022.
The strike came nearly a year after the conclusion of the War in Afghanistan. U.S. officials called al-Zawahiri's presence in Afghanistan a violation of the agreement for the withdrawal of American forces from the country, under which the Taliban would not allow al-Qaeda members any sanctuary. Following the strike, members of the Haqqani network tried to cover up al-Zawahiri's death, although the U.S. was able to confirm it. In response to the strike, Biden released a statement announcing al-Zawahiri's death, calling it a "deliverance of justice".[2]
References
- ↑ Baker, Peter; Cooper, Helene; Barnes, Julian; Schmitt, Eric (1 August 2022). "U.S. Drone Strike Kills Ayman al-Zawahri, Top Qaeda Leader". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 1 August 2022. Retrieved 1 August 2022.
- ↑ Lee, Matthew; Merchant, Nomaan; Madhani, Aamer (1 August 2022). "Biden: Killing of al-Qaida leader is long-sought 'justice'". Associated Press. Archived from the original on 1 August 2022. Retrieved 1 August 2022.