Al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahri killed by US

Al Qaeda leader Ayman al Zawahri killed by US

Published: Less than 40 min ago

Updated: Just now

full screen Ayman al-Zawahiri. Photo: AP SCANPIX SWEDEN

Al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri has been killed in a CIA-led drone attack in Afghanistan, several American media outlets say.

During the night, Joe Biden will hold a press conference from the White House balcony.

Late on Monday evening, Swedish time, several American media reported in unison that the intelligence service CIA carried out a “successful operation against a high-ranking target within the terrorist organization al-Qaeda in Afghanistan” over the weekend.

Shortly later, CNN and AP, among others, stated that it was al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri who was killed in the bombing.

US President Joe Biden will give a speech about the crackdown at 01:30, Swedish time. Biden tested positive again for covid-19 as recently as Monday and will therefore speak outdoors from the White House balcony, according to CNN and AP.

Egyptian doctor Ayman al-Zawahiri, 71, was al-Qaeda’s second-in-command behind Osama bin Laden for a long time. He took over as the terrorist group’s leader in June 2011, a month after the US killed bin Laden in Pakistan.

The US State Department had offered a $25 million reward for information leading to al-Zawahiri’s capture or death.

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full screen Ayman al-Zawahiri has long been on America’s most wanted list. Photo: FBI
fullscreen Usama bin Laden and Ayman al-Zawahiri. Photo: AP SCANPIX SWEDEN

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