JTFMax:

Attack was prepared for months. Anti-terrorist strike at sunrise – against Osama bin Laden's successor!

The United States killed al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri (71) in a drone attack over the weekend. This was confirmed by US President Joe Biden (79) in a television speech on Tuesday.

"That terrorist leader is gone," Biden said. The successful deployment is a clear signal to all enemies of the United States. "No matter how long it takes, no matter where you hide, if you are a threat to our people, the United States will find you and eliminate you."

Biden said US intelligence tracked al-Sawahiri to a house in downtown Kabul where he was hiding with his family.

The US President continued: "After carefully reviewing the clear and compelling evidence of his whereabouts, I have authorized a precision strike that will remove him from the battlefield once and for all."

"The mission was a success," Biden said. "None of his relatives were injured, and there were no civilian casualties."

The blow came at 6 a.m

US government officials said the terror leader was killed on Sunday at 6:18 a.m. local time. The attack was committed when he stepped onto the balcony of his shelter. Then the US drone fired two Hellfire missiles. According to US information, the attack was so precise that none of the terror boss's family was injured.

"Al-Zawahiri continued to pose an active threat to the people, interests, and national security of the United States," it said. "His death is a major blow to al-Qaeda and will hamper the group's ability to function."

Al-Zawahiri was regarded as Osama bin Laden's successor and was his right-hand man until his death. Under their joint leadership, al-Qaeda carried out the deadliest attack of all time on American soil: the September 11, 2001 attacks involving four passenger planes. Over 3000 people died.

Bin Laden was killed in 2011 by US elite soldiers in Pakistan.

Terrorism expert Bruce Hoffman from Georgetown University: "Al-Zawahiri was always bin Laden's mentor. Bin Laden always looked up to him." He was in an Egyptian prison, "he was tortured," said the expert. "He's been a jihadist since he was a teenager."

Al-Sawahiri made his last public appearance last September – precisely 20 years after the September 11 attacks. Then, in a video message, he called on his supporters to fight the states in the west and their allies in the Middle East.

Drone attack conducted by the CIA

According to reports, the strike against Al-Zawahiri was NOT carried out by the military but by the US foreign intelligence agency CIA.

The attack came about a year after NATO troops withdrew from Afghanistan. In the withdrawal, the Taliban terrorists had seized power in the country again.