Elimination of a terrorist
Early on the night of July 30, a senior official from the United States administration reported to reporters that at 9:48 p.m. Eastern Time, the United States was carrying out a sensitive counter-terrorism operation in Kabul at the request of the American president. The operation targeted a global figure associated with al Qaeda and resulted in the individual’s destruction. The official noted that the individual had long been a trusted successor in the terrorist network after the death of Osama bin Laden in 2011 and posed an ongoing threat to U.S. citizens and national security. The White House also stated that the president had consistently stated Afghanistan must not serve as a sanctuary for terrorists who could harm the United States and its people, and that this promise was fulfilled on that Saturday night. [Source: White House]
A spokesperson for the U.S. administration explained that American intelligence determined the location of the terrorist. Initially it appeared that the individual and his family had relocated to Kabul, including a wife and daughter, but subsequent intelligence confirmed the presence of the target himself. High-level representatives of regional groups and the Taliban were aware of the individual’s presence in Kabul, and it was reported that the target stayed in a home that had become a shelter after his arrival. The administration stated that there was no warning given to local authorities about the operation. The attack on the house used an unmanned aerial vehicle with presidential authorization, and the only casualty reported was the target. The official emphasized confidence in the intelligence and the methods used, asserting that the operation achieved its stated objective without broader harm. [Source: White House]
Two Hellfire missiles were used in the strike. Open sources indicate that the individual, born in Egypt, had maintained close ties with the original founder of the terrorist organization and became its leader after the death of the former head in 2011. A reward had previously been offered for information about the new leader of al Qaeda. The implicated individual supported the Taliban leadership that gained power in Afghanistan in 2021. President Biden later stated that the strike killed the leader on the balcony of a secure residence in Kabul and that there were no civilian casualties and no injuries to the leader’s relatives. He reaffirmed that the United States would not allow Afghanistan to become a haven for terrorists again and pledged continued vigilance against threats from al Qaeda wherever they arise. [Source: White House]
During the briefing, President Biden emphasized the commitment to defend the homeland. The administration has maintained that the Taliban allowed the al Qaeda figure to stay in Kabul, in violation of earlier agreements and commitments to the international community. The Secretary of State publicly commented that the Taliban failed to meet their obligations and that the United States would support the Afghan people with humanitarian aid and a focus on protecting human rights, particularly those of women and girls. The statement underscored the intention to respond decisively to any future threats and to keep the world safer by acting against those who threaten American security and its allies. [Source: White House]