Two CIA 'ninja missiles' have killed Al Qaeda's leader Ayman al-Zawahiri who was the co-architect of the 9/11 attacks in New York with the notorious Osama Bin Laden.
The American foreign intelligence service deployed two R9X Hellfires, which uses huge blades to take out targets, to target the 71-year-old Egyptian as he walked on his balcony at a safe house in Kabul, Afghanistan.
The airborne axe is known to be able to cut through buildings and cars and anyone who stands in its way is likely to meet a sticky end.
Referred to as a 'flying Ginsu,' and a 'speedy anvil', the missiles do not use explosive warheads to make sure collateral damage is minimised.
Osama Bin Laden's "number two man" took over from the murderous terrorist after he was killed by US special forces in 2011.
He was suspected of playing a major role in the attacks at the US embassy bombings at Dar es Salaam in Tanzania, and Nairobi, Kenya in 1998.
The Egyptian's death was confirmed by President Joe Biden late on Monday, August 1. The president confirmed al-Zawahiri had been killed the day before.
"Since the United States delivered justice to Bin Laden 11 years ago, Zawahiri has been a leader of al-Qaeda," Biden said.
"From hiding, he co-ordinated al-Qaeda's branches and all around the world, including setting priorities for providing operational guidance and calling for and inspired attacks against US targets."
Though the leader of a feared terrorist organisation, al-Zawahiri was increasingly considered a fringe figure in the group and only delivered the occasional message.
He appeared in a video last year commemorating 20 years after the 9/11 terrorist attacks despite rumours that he died months earlier.
Biden added: "This mission was carefully planned, rigorously minimising the risk of harm to other civilians.
"And one week ago, after being advised that the conditions were optimal, I gave the final approval to go get him. And the mission was a success."
He was appointed leader of Al Qaeda a month after bin Laden was shot dead by US forces at a compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan.
According to the FBI's most wanted list, Al-Zawahiri had a £20.4 million bounty over his head.
In a statement on Monday night, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid confirmed a strike took place, calling it a violation of “international principles.”
Speaking on August 31, 2021, after the last US troops left Afghanistan, Mr Biden said the US would not let up on its fight against terrorism in that country or elsewhere as it continues targets Al-Qaeda.
“We will maintain the fight against terrorism in Afghanistan and other countries,” he said.
“We just don’t need to fight a ground war to do it.”
Previewing the strike that would occur 11 months later, Mr Biden said at the time: “We have what’s called over-the-horizon capabilities, which means we can strike terrorists and targets without American boots on the ground — or very few, if needed.”
Al-Zawahiri was a physician and the founder of the Egyptian Islamic Jihad (EIJ).
According to the FBI, the organisation opposed the secular Egyptian Government and sought to overthrow it through violent means.
He moved to Jeddah in the 1980s, where he met bin Laden. In around 1998, the EIJ, led by Al-Zawahiri, merged with Al Qaeda.
