Reactions to reported killing of al Qaeda leader Zawahiri

The United States on Tuesday announced that it killed al Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri in a strike in Afghanistan over the weekend, the biggest blow to the militant group since its founder Osama bin Laden was killed in 2011.

US President Joe Biden said that justice was delivered with killing of Zawahiri, which reportedly happened in a drone strike in capital Kabul.

“Now justice has been delivered, and this terrorist leader is no more. 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 said in remarks released by the White House.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said: “In the face of the Taliban’s (IEA) unwillingness or inability to abide by their commitments, we will continue to support the Afghan people with robust humanitarian assistance and to advocate for the protection of their human rights, especially of women and girls.”

Saudi foreign ministry in a statement described Zawahiri as “one of the leaders of terrorism that led the planning and execution of heinous terrorist operations in the United States and Saudi Arabia.”

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said that the death of Zawahiri is “a step toward a safer world.”

“Canada will keep working with our global partners to counter terrorist threats, promote peace and security, and keep people here at home and around the world safe,” Trudeau said on Twitter.

Former US President Barack Obama also reacted to the death of Zawahiri saying the news is a “proof that it’s possible to root out terrorism without being at war in Afghanistan.”

“I hope it provides a small measure of peace to the 9/11 families and everyone else who has suffered at the hands of al-Qaeda,” Obama said on Twitter.