Al Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri, one of the architects of the September 11 attacks, has been killed in a US drone strike in Afghanistan.
US President Joe Biden says the militant's death means al-Zawahiri won't make Afghanistan "a terrorist safe haven" again.
Look back on our live blog as the events unfolded.
Key events
- Al-Zawahiri's presence in Kabul a 'clear violation' of accords by Taliban, US official says
- Here's what we know so far
- Elissa Slotkin: 'While it may take years, we do not forget those who attack us'
- Ayman al-Zawahiri one of 'dozens, possibly hundreds' of senior Al Qaeda members in Afganistan
- 'Never again': Biden on terrorist 'safe haven'
- Biden: 'Justice has been delivered and this terrorist leader is no more'
- Biden's warning to terrorists
- Al-Zawahiri was located earlier this year
- Watch Joe Biden's speech on the attack
- How the US is reacting to news of Ayman al-Zawahiri's death
- Ayman al-Zawahiri's whereabouts had been unknown until the strike
- US official says there were 'no civilian casualties' during strike
- A $35 million reward was offered for information that led to Ayman al-Zawahiri
- Planning for drone strike began six months ago, US official says
- Ayman al-Zawahiri was considered a 'very big fish'
- Who was Ayman al-Zawahiri?
Live updates
By Shiloh Payne
That's all for today's blog
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See you next time.
By Shiloh Payne
Al-Zawahiri's role as a terrorist
After the years of quietly assembling the suicide attackers, funds and plans for the Sept. 11 attack, Zawahri ensured that al-Qaida survived the global manhunt that followed to attack again.
On the run after September 11, al-Zawahiri rebuilt al-Qaida leadership in the Afghan-Pakistan border region and was the supreme leader over branches in Iraq, Asia, Yemen and beyond.
With a credo of targeting near and far enemies, Al Qaeda after September 11 carried out years of unrelenting attacks: in Bali, Mombasa, Riyadh, Jakarta, Istanbul, Madrid, London and beyond.
Attacks that killed 52 people in London in 2005 were among Al Qaeda’s last devastating attacks in the West, as drone strikes, counterterror raids and missiles launched by the US and others killed Al Qaeda-affiliated fighters and shattered parts of the network.
By Shiloh Payne
How was al-Zawahiri killed?
Around sunrise on Sunday, al-Zawahiri came outside on the balcony of a house in Kabul, Afghanistan, and apparently lingered there, as U.S. intelligence had noted he often did.
On this day, a US drone fired two Hellfire missiles at the Al Qaeda leader as he stood, according to U.S. officials, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss the strike.
The Associated Press reports his presence in Afghanistan had been widely suspected for some time.
US officials learned this year that al-Zawahiri's wife and other family members had moved to a safe house in Kabul recently.
Zawahri soon followed, the senior administration officials said.
US officials spent careful months confirming his identity — and his fateful practice of standing alone on that same balcony — and planned the strike.
By Shiloh Payne
Drone strike hit ties up loose ends from September 11, scholar says
Professor David Kilcullen says a new generation of Al Qaeda leaders have emerged over the past 20 years
By Shiloh Payne
Who was Al Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri?
Zawahiri has been the leader of Al Qaeda since 2011, and took over after its founder, Osama bin Laden, was killed by US forces in Pakistan that year.
Prior to becoming leader, Zawahiri played a major role within the terrorist group.
After the US invaded Afghanistan in 2001, Zawahiri rebuilt Al Qaeda's leadership in the Afghan-Pakistan border region, and reshaped the group to become a decentralised operation, assembling networks of autonomous branches around the region.
Zawahiri also played a role in the 2004 train bombings in Madrid, and the 2005 transit bombings in London.
He was also considered by some to be a more prickly and divisive leader, with some key figures in Al Qaeda's leadership calling him overly controlling and secretive compared to bin Laden.
His death is widely considered to be the biggest blow dealt to the terrorist group since bin Laden's death 11 year ago.
By Bridget Judd
'Symbolic' drone strike hit ties up loose ends from 9/11, counterinsurgency expert says
A new generation of Al Qaeda leaders have emerged over the past 20 years, according to Dr David Kilcullen, a former soldier and diplomat.
Dr Kilcullen, who served 25 years for the Australian and United States governments, says al-Zawahiri had been rumoured to be dead until last year.
"He emerged last year with a video and an audio recording about the anniversary of 9/11 and actually reflecting in triumph on the Taliban victory in Afghanistan," he says.
You can watch the full interview with Dr Kilcullen above.
By Shiloh Payne
Concerns Al Qaeda is back in Kabul
US politicians and members of the media are expressing their concerns that al-Zawahiri was found in Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan.
Here's what they're saying:
By Shiloh Payne
Saudi Arabia welcomes killing of al-Zawahiri
Saudi Arabia has welcomed Joe Biden's announcement of the killing of al-Zawahiri, the State news agency reported late on Monday quoting a foreign ministry statement.
"Zawahiri is considered one of the leaders of terrorism that led the planning and execution of heinous terrorist operations in the United States and Saudi Arabia," it said.
Reuters
By Bridget Judd
Al-Zawahiri's presence in Kabul a 'clear violation' of accords by Taliban, US official says
A US official says Ayman al-Zawahiri's presence in Kabul was a "clear violation" of the 2020 agreement the Taliban signed with Washington, in which they promised not to allow Afghanistan to become a haven for international jihad.
"We expect them to abide by the terms of the Doha agreement. And the presence of Zawahiri in downtown Kabul was a clear violation of that," the senior administration official told Agence France-Presse.
"Going forward with the Taliban we'll continue to hold them accountable."
Agence France-Presse
By Shiloh Payne
Expert: 'Outrageous' that al-Zawahiri was in Kabul
A US national security expert has described the US killing of Al Qaeda leader, Ayman al-Zawahiri in the capital of Afghanistan, Kabul as "a huge setback" for the terrorist group.
Richard Fontaine, who is an ex-staffer at the US National Security Council and foreign policy advisor to Senator John McCain, said al-Zawahiri's hideout in Kabul raises "a huge amount of questions about how the Taliban is going to govern in Afghanistan".
"It is pretty audacious and outrageous that of all the places in the world where the leader of Al Qaeda shows up is in Kabul," Mr Fontaine said.
"Either he felt safe, and the Taliban didn't know he was there or, more likely, the Taliban was sheltering there.
"So, the alignment between violent Jihadi groups and the Taliban, which now controls a sovereign country that's going to be a problem into the future."
The Taliban has reportedly condemned the US drone strike.
Reporting by ABC NewsRadio's Thomas Oriti and Claudia Jambor
By Shiloh Payne
Here's what we know so far
Here's a quick recap of what we know so far:
- US President Joe Biden has confirmed a US drone strike has killed Al Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri in Kabul
- Al-Zawahiri joined the Muslim brotherhood as a teenager
- He helped coordinate the September 11, 2001, attacks which killed nearly 3,000 people
- He took over Al Qaeda after the death of Osama bin Laden in 2011
-
Al-Zawahiri was on the FBI's list of Most Wanted Terrorists, there was a reward of up to $US25 million for information that led to his apprehension or conviction
- There were no civilian casualties in the air strike that killed al-Zawahiri.
By Bridget Judd
Elissa Slotkin: 'While it may take years, we do not forget those who attack us'
Elissa Slotkin is a US congresswoman and former CIA Middle East analyst and Pentagon official, who has "known many people" who have been killed our wounded by Al Qaeda "under his direction".
Here's a little of what she had to say about the news:
"The news of the successful hit on Ayman al-Zawahiri stopped me in my tracks. He was one of the masterminds of 9/11, the attacks on the USS Cole & our embassies in Kenya & Tanzania, and supported al Qaeda as they targeted many others across the globe. But tonight, he is gone.
"As a former CIA Middle East analyst & Pentagon official, I’ve known many people — Americans, Iraqis, and so many others from our coalition — who have been killed our wounded by al Qaeda under his direction. So many local people dragged through the streets.
"ISIS, and many other groups inspired by al Qaeda, can draw a direct lineage from Zawahiri. And as someone who joined the CIA because I happened to be in New York on 9/11, I also know how many years of hard work it has taken to bring him to bring him this end.
"For decades, he was second only to UBL in leading al Qaeda. Tonight's news is a testament to the tireless work of our intelligence community and military, who have been looking him for so long.
"Targeting one senior leader does not end the capacity of an organization to attack, but it does send a message that, while it may take years, we do not forget those who attack us. I commend the President for making the tough call & the national security team for this success."
By Bridget Judd
Ayman al-Zawahiri one of 'dozens, possibly hundreds' of senior Al Qaeda members in Afganistan
Dr David Kilcullen is a former soldier and diplomat, and a scholar of guerrilla warfare, terrorism, urbanisation and the future of conflict, who served 25 years for the Australian and United States governments.
Speaking to ABC News 24, he says al-Zawahiri "was one of the big brains" within the Al Qaeda movement.
"And some of his influence can be seen in the development of groups like HTS, the group that currently controls parts of northern Syria, and other groups.
"And he's been seen as a thinker rather than as a military commander throughout most of his career as the head of Al Qaeda."
Dr Kilcullen says al-Zawahiri's death is largely a "symbolic victory", because he is just one of "dozens, possibly hundreds" of senior Al Qaeda members in Afghanistan.
"Unfortunately, despite the spin that President Biden just tried to put on the situation, in fact, Al Qaeda has been operating basically with impunity inside Afghanistan ever since the collapse last year.
"Although it's obviously - as the President said - ties up some loose ends with respect to 9/11, he's just one of dozens, possibly hundreds, of senior Al Qaeda members now busily putting the safe haven back together in Afghanistan," he added.
By Shiloh Payne
Biden's pledge to defend the nation
Joe Biden has finished his address confirming the success of a drone strike on al-Zawahiri in Kabul.
Here's what he said:
By Shiloh Payne
'Never again': Biden on terrorist 'safe haven'
Biden says this operation is "a clear demonstration" that his administration will be vigilant when it comes to Al Qaeda threats.
"He will never again - never again - allow Afghanistan to become a terrorist safe haven, because he is gone, and we are going to make sure that nothing else happens," Biden says.
By Bridget Judd
Biden: 'Justice has been delivered and this terrorist leader is no more'
Labelling al-Zawahiri a "vicious and determined killer", Joe Biden says the Al Qaeda leader coordinated branches around the world, and "inspired attacks against US targets".
"He made videos, including in recent weeks calling for his followers to attack the United States and our allies.
"Now, justice has been delivered. And this terrorist leader is no more.
"People around the world no longer need to fear the vicious and determined killer.
"The United States continues to demonstrate our resolve and our capacity to defend the American people against those who seek to do us harm."
Mr Biden says he hopes the news brings “one more measure of closure” to families of the victims of the September 11 attacks.
By Shiloh Payne
Biden's warning to terrorists
Biden says it's his "solemn responsibility to make America safe in a dangerous world".
He has sent a warning to anyone who seek to harm the United States.
"Hear me now - we will always remain vigilant, and we will act, and we will always do what is necessary to ensure the safety and security of Americans at home and around the globe," Biden says.
By Shiloh Payne
Al-Zawahiri was located earlier this year
Biden says al-Zawahiri had moved to downtown Kabul to reunite with members of his immediate family.
“After carefully considering clear and convincing evidence of his location, I authorised a precision strike that would remove him from the battlefield once and for all,” Biden says.
“This mission was carefully planned, rigorously minimising the risk of harm to other civilians.”
“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. None of his family members were hurt, and there were no civilian casualties.”
By Shiloh Payne
Joe Biden is speaking in Washington
President Joe Biden has confirmed that al-Zawahiri was killed in an air strike on Saturday at Biden’s request.
“We make it clear again tonight that, 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,” Biden says.
