Biden confirms elimination of al-Qaeda leader al-Zawahiri

US President Joe Biden made the corresponding statement in a live video message, the Associated Press informs.

"On Saturday, on my orders, the United States conducted a successful airstrike in Kabul, Afghanistan, killing the emir of al-Qaeda, Ayman al-Zawahiri," the White House said.

He clarified that during the operation there were no victims among the civilian population.

"People all over the world can no longer be afraid of this evil, determined killer," the US president emphasized.

Biden noted that the United States has demonstrated the determination and ability to protect people from threats of this level.

"He will never again, never again, allow Afghanistan to become a terrorist safe haven because he is gone and we’re going to make sure that nothing else happens," Biden said in a speech from the White House, officially announcing the operation.

According to him, US intelligence officers tracked al-Zawahiri to a house in the center of Kabul, where he was hiding with his family.