Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced the death of the Al Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri in a press statement on Monday
With al-Zawahiri's death, all the top plotters of the 9/11 terrorist attacks are either dead or captured, CBS News reported.
“President Biden last year committed to the American people that, following the withdrawal of U.S. forces, the United States would continue to protect our country and act against terrorist threats emanating from Afghanistan,” Blinken said, according to the release. “The President made clear that we would not hesitate to protect the Homeland. With the operation that delivered justice to Ayman al-Zawihiri, the leader of al Qa’ida, we have made good on that commitment, and we will continue to do so in the face of any future threats... The world is a safer place following the death of Zawahiri, and the United States will continue to act resolutely against those who would threaten our country, our people, or our allies and partners.”
al-Zawahiri was killed by a drone strike carried out by the CIA in a counterterrorism operation, CBS News reported. Biden gave final approval to carry out the operation one week ago, after al Zawahiri had reunited with family members in downtown Kabul.
The Al Qaeda leader was taken out via drone on July 30 on the balcony of his safehouse, CBS reported. His family was in the house during the strike, but were not hurt, Biden said.
"By sheltering al-Zawahiri, the Taliban grossly violated the Doha Agreement," Blinken wrote in the State Department release. "By allowing the Afghan territory to be used by terrorists and by sheltering them, the Taliban has betrayed the Afghan people."
The United States “will continue to support the Afghan people with robust humanitarian assistance and to advocate for the protection of their human rights, especially of women and girls,” Blinken concluded.
