Who was al-Zawahiri, al-Qaeda chief killed in US drone strike?
What's the story
The United States has killed al-Qaeda chief Ayman al-Zawahiri in a drone strike—carried out by the Central Intelligence Agency—in Kabul on Sunday. Appointed as the successor to Osama bin Laden, al-Zawahiri headed al-Qaeda for over a decade before being killed. Once a surgeon, how did the Egyptian national come to manage one of the biggest terror outfits in the world? Here's more on al-Zawahiri.
Context
Why does this story matter?
The 71-year-old slain al-Qaeda boss helped coordinate the September 11, 2001, attacks in the US, after which he had been on the run for 20 years with a $25 million bounty on his head. According to experts, however, al-Zawahiri lacked the charm that helped Osama bin Laden mobilize radicals throughout the globe, but he freely lent his analytical skills to the al-Qaeda cause.
Details
Egyptian national, served in the army
Al-Zawahiri was born in Giza, Egypt, on June 19, 1951. He had studied medicine to become a surgeon; bin Laden had a civil engineering degree and studied business and economic administration. He had even served in the Egyptian Army for three years. He was announced as al-Qaeda's second General Emir after the US killed bin Laden in Pakistan's Abbottabad in 2011.
Arrest
Joined the Muslim Brotherhood at age 14
In 1981, al-Zawahiri, along with hundreds of others, was arrested for the assassination of Egypt's third president Anwar Sadat. Aged 30 at the time and a member of the Muslim Brotherhood (since age 14), al-Zawahiri was allegedly tortured by the Egyptian Police while in prison. He had reportedly been a senior member of terror outfits that have attacked Africa, Asia, North America, and Europe.
EIJ
Formed EIJ, became a member of al-Qaeda
Al-Zawahiri founded the Egyptian Islamic Jihad (EIJ) in the late 1970s and later merged it with al-Qaeda. He was a key figure behind many terror attacks at the close of the 20th century, like the Tanzania and Kenya bombings of 1998, which targeted the US embassies, and even the 9/11 attacks. He developed a close relationship with bin Laden as a member of al-Qaeda.
Kabul
Al-Zawahiri killed in drone strike
The US killed al-Zawahiri in a "precision strike" in Kabul, the capital of the Taliban-ruled Afghanistan on Sunday, said US President Joe Biden. This is undoubtedly the biggest blow to al-Qaeda since bin Laden's death in 2011. The 71-year-old was reportedly killed when he came out on the balcony of his safe house. He was reportedly hit by "Hellfire" missiles from an American drone.
Twitter Post
Al-Zawahiri shot at Kabul safe house
#Kabul .. this is one of two locations struck Sunday morning.. this seems to be the house where #Zawahiri was killed #AlQaeda #Afghanistan pic.twitter.com/pkpcaklg0z
— lyse doucet (@bbclysedoucet) August 2, 2022
Quote
What did Biden say on al-Zawahiri's killing?
Addressing the media on Monday, Biden stated that "justice has been delivered." "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 take you out," the Democrat leader added.