AP sources: US operation killed al-Qaida leader al-Zawahri

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: AP


FILE - As seen on a computer screen from a DVD prepared by Al-Sahab production, al-Qaida's Ayman al-Zawahri speaks in Islamabad, Pakistan, on June 20, 2006. Al-Zawahri, the top al-Qaida leader, was killed by the U.S. over the weekend in Afghanistan. President Joe Biden is scheduled to speak about the operation on Monday night, Aug. 1, 2022, from the White House in Washington. (AP Photo/B.K.Bangash, File)


WASHINGTON (AP) -- A CIA drone strike has killed al-Qaida leader Ayman al-Zawahri in Afghanistan, according to five people familiar with the matter.

Current and former officials began hearing Sunday afternoon that al-Zawahri had been killed in a drone strike, but the administration delayed releasing the information until his death could be confirmed, according to one person, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the matter.

White House officials declined to confirm al-Zawahri was killed but noted in a statement that the United States conducted a "successful" counterterrorism operation against a significant al-Qaida target, adding that "there were no civilian casualties."

President Joe Biden is expected to discuss further details of the operation in a 7:30 p.m. EDT address to the nation. Biden planned to speak from the balcony off the White House Blue Room as he remains in isolation in the residence while he continues to test positive for COVID-19.

Read more: https://apnews.com/article/ayman-al-zawahri-al-qaida-terrorism-biden-36e5f10256c9bc9972b252849eda91f2?taid=62e8489d9308a6000163be26

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A BFD since it's not one of the many "2nd in commands". It's basically the equivalent of Osama Bin Laden.

President Biden will be giving an address this evening (AP corrected their EST to be EDT for the address timing).

Original article -

WASHINGTON (AP) -- A U.S. airstrike has killed al-Qaida leader Ayman al-Zawahri in Afghanistan, according to a person familiar with the matter.

Current and former officials began hearing Sunday afternoon that al-Zawahri had been killed in a drone strike, but the administration delayed releasing the information until it could his death could be confirmed, according to person who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the matter.

White House officials declined to confirm the al-Zawahri was killed but noted in a statement that "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."

President Joe Biden is expected to discuss further details of the operation in a 7:30 p.m. EST address to the nation.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE.

[orangecrush]

1. Just desserts

[AllTooEasy]

37. He thought Dems also forgot him

eom

[orangecrush]

49. Yup

We didn't.

[pwb]

2. Ah shit, this will ruin trumps terrorist golf meet.

Take that Prince fuckhead.

[TheProle]

5. Zawahiri was no friend of the Saudis

[liberalgunwilltravel]

19. ?

Bin Laden was a Saudi.

[TheProle]

34. And an avowed enemy of the House of Saud

[stopdiggin]

36. THANK YOU !! -(nt)-

[erronis]

14. Maybe if some nebulous group starts taking out the saudi murderers

In addition to the current MSB fucker, there are still lots of that family (and others) that were involved in the 9/11 attack.

I would guess that the US and others know much more about what really happened, and who was planning it than has been revealed. Bin Laden was a convenient target. Much more convenient than a ruling despot who had huge oil reserves and a friend of the Bushes.

[Baitball Blogger]

3. Operation Find Out.

[yaesu]

4. Been on the most wanted list since day one. nt

[Samrob]

25. Isn't this the same guy the Bush administration killed three times? nt

[yaesu]

30. probably. nt

[Rebl2]

39. Don't remember

that

[PlanetBev]

6. He was a big time fish in the terrorist waters

Glad they reeled him in while Joe is in office, and not Trump. Trump would be taking full credit for it, beating his chest like the orange ape that he is.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

7. This is President Biden's Bin Ladin moment

Link to tweet

[calimary]

29. Whoops there goes another mother-fucker!

To the tune of the chorus of that oldie but goodie:

“Once there was a silly old ant (thought he could move a rubber tree plant…”

[Botany]

8. Best President of my lifetime ... end of story. So fucking nice to have grown ups running things.

President Joe

And he saved this too.

[AllTooEasy]

38. Better than Obama?! ...we'll see

We'll see My Friend

[turbinetree]

9. The asshole killed a lot of people and caused a lot of people in the airline

to lose there jobs......so I hope that hell fire rocket landed right on top of his head....

[ancianita]

10. He was indeed THE second in command with Bin Laden. He was also Bin Laden's doctor.

Thanks for the post!

[BumRushDaShow]

22. Well since Bin Laden went bye bye a decade ago....

this one WAS "in command".

[ancianita]

41. Yep! He was!

[BumRushDaShow]

42. President Biden mentioned all this in his remarks too

[ancianita]

43. Sorry, had to take a long call from up north and missed it.

I'll catch up!

[Mysterian]

11. Great news!

Al qaeda is a threat to civilized people everywhere.

[WinstonSmith4740]

12. The only questions remaining.

A) How will the rethugs frame this as an unnecessary show of power, possibly upsetting allies in the region? After all, he hasn't attacked us in YEARS (I mean, just like Khashoggi, nobody talks about it anymore), and does anyone know who he is, really? AND WHAT ABOUT HUNTER BIDEN'S LAPTOP?

B) How will the mainstream media manage to turn this into a HUGE mistake by Biden?

[oldsoftie]

13. Wow! Been after that POS for 20 YEARS!!

Just goes to show everyone; we don't forget and we don't stop looking for you

[SergeStorms]

15. They could have had him Thursday....

at Trump's Bedbugminster Saudi golf tournament. Some people say he was there as a guest of Trump and "Bone-saw" bin Salman, playing in a foursome with Bryson DeChambeau and Dustin Johnson.

Hey, that's what some people say.

[Mr.Bill]

17. You're doing it wrong.

The line is "Everybody is saying...". Or the orange monster's favorite, "I know it, you know it, everybody knows it."

[SergeStorms]

23. I'm not that adept at lying.

I'd never make it in the republican party. Destined to be a Democrat for life.

[Mr.Bill]

24. LOL

[liberalgunwilltravel]

16. Bumper Sticker

"Democrats kill terrorists, Republicans host their golf tournaments."

[PlanetBev]

18. Bingo!

[Mr.Bill]

20. You win the internet today! n/t

[BumRushDaShow]

27. DUzy!

[calimary]

28. DAYUM! Ouch!

Ouch-a-roonie-pie!

A KILLER bumper sticker!

"Democrats kill terrorists, Republicans host their golf tournaments."

I want one!

[CaptainTruth]

33. +100

[DickKessler]

48. "Democrats kill terrorists, Republicans take part in their attacks" (Jan. 6)

[beaglelover]

21. Fantastic news!!!

[Brainfodder]

26. Best news this year.

Thank you drone operator, you da lady/man!

Better late than never was never truer?

[Shanti Shanti Shanti]

31. CIA drone strike? Good Job

[CaptainTruth]

32. GOOD!

[Shanti Shanti Shanti]

35. Death to Terrorists! Good job, CIA

[AwakeAtLast]

40. This is a BFD!

NOW will news reports say Biden is doing a good job? Sadly, not holding my breath.

[Rhiannon12866]

44. Did anybody tell TFG? He said recently that we still don't know who was responsible for 9/11...

[LetMyPeopleVote]

45. Rachel told TFG

Link to tweet

[Rhiannon12866]

46. Perfect! Leave it to Rachel! Thanks so much! Twitter reply:

Link to tweet

[DickKessler]

47. Good. Rot in hell.

[Aussie105]

50. The rest of the world looks on and wonders.

If it is OK for the US to take out someone in a foreign country using a high tech remote controlled drone, what is to stop Putin from doing the same with the leader of other countries - Ukraine, for instance?

Careful of the precedent you set!

[BumRushDaShow]

51. al-Zawahri is NOT a head of state

He was head of a terrorist organization.

And no (legit) "head of state" of one country would "take out" the "head of state" of another. I.e., Putin is not going to "take out" Zelenskyy.

The closest the U.S. has gotten to that type of thing was most likely stirring the pot that lead to the death of Saddam Hussein and Muammar Gaddafi, as examples, by people in their own countries. Otherwise we tend to do that "rendition" thing (like Manuel Noriega) after doing a trial and then going through the motions. Alternately, we have a soft spot for helping "heads of state in exile" (see the Shah of Iran).