US President Joe Biden on Tuesday confirmed that a US drone strike in Afghanistan this weekend killed al-Qaida leader Ayman al-Zawahri, declaring “justice has been delivered.”
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“This terrorist leader is no more,” Biden said in an evening (Tuesday morning NZT) speech from the White House.
Biden said he hoped al-Zawahri's death brings “one more measure of closure” to families of the victims of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States.
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Biden said US intelligence officials tracked al-Zawahri to a home in downtown Kabul where he was hiding out with his family.
The president approved the operation last week and it was carried out on Sunday.