Politico reports that a weekend drone strike in Afghanistan by the United States military killed al Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahri. The news was first reported by the Associated Press.
A senior administration official told reporters, “over the weekend, the United States conducted a counterterrorism operation against a significant Al Qaeda target in Afghanistan. The operation was successful and there were no civilian casualties.” Zawahri, an Egyptian, became the leader of the international terrorist organization upon the death of Osama bin Laden, who was killed in a SEAL team operation in Pakistan. The US had placed a $25 million bounty on Zawahri’s head.
Typically a person who kept a low profile, Zawahri released a video in May echoing a Republican talking point, popular with titular Party head Donald Trump, that Joe Biden forced Russia to invade Ukraine. His only other public statement was a “proof of life” video released in April after rumors of his death swirled in the Middle East.