US kills Al-Qaeda leader Al-Zawahiri in drone strike - Newstrends
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US kills Al-Qaeda leader Al-Zawahiri in drone strike

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Ayman al-Zawahiri

A United States drone strike killed Al Qaeda chief Ayman al-Zawahiri at a hideout in the Afghan capital, President Joe Biden said Monday, adding “justice had been delivered” to the families of the September 11, 2001 attacks.

In a somber televised address, Biden said he gave the final go-ahead for the high-precision strike that successfully targeted Zawahiri in the Afghan capital over the weekend.

“Justice has been delivered and this terrorist leader is no more,” Biden said, adding that he hoped Zawahiri’s death would bring “closure” to families of the 3,000 people killed in the United States on 9/11.

A senior administration official said Zawahiri was on the balcony of a house in Kabul when he was targeted with two Hellfire missiles, an hour after sunrise on July 31, and that there had been no US boots on the ground in Afghanistan.

“We are not aware of him ever leaving the safe house. We identified Zawahiri on multiple occasions for sustained periods of time on the balcony of where he was ultimately struck,” the official said.

According to the official’s account, the president gave his green light for the strike on July 25 — as he was recovering in isolation from Covid-19. Biden said there were no civilian casualties in the operation.

It was the first known over-the-horizon strike by the United States on an Al-Qaeda target in Afghanistan since American forces withdrew from the country on August 31, 2021.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Monday evening that “by hosting and sheltering” Zawahiri, the Taliban had “grossly violated the Doha Agreement” signed in 2020, which paved the way for America’s withdrawal.

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Zawahiri, an Egyptian surgeon who grew up in a comfortable Cairo household before turning to violent radicalism, had been on the run for 20 years since the 9/11 attacks.

He took over Al-Qaeda after Osama bin Laden was killed by US special forces in Pakistan in 2011, and had a $25 million US bounty on his head.

Over the weekend the Afghan interior ministry denied reports circulating on social media of a drone strike in Kabul, telling AFP a rocket struck “an empty house” in the capital, causing no casualties.

Early Tuesday in Kabul, however, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid tweeted that an “aerial attack” was carried out on a residence in the Sherpur area of the city.

“The nature of the incident was not revealed at first. The security and intelligence agencies of the Islamic Emirate investigated the incident and found in their preliminary investigations that the attack was carried out by American drones,” his tweet said.

The news comes a month before the first anniversary of the final withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan, leaving the country in the control of the Taliban insurgency that fought Western forces over the preceding two decades.

Under the 2020 Doha deal, the Taliban promised not to allow Afghanistan to be used again as a launchpad for international jihadism, but experts believe the group never broke its ties with Al-Qaeda.

“What we know is that the senior Haqqani Taliban were aware of his presence in Kabul,” the Biden official said.

Taliban interior minister Sirajuddin Haqqani also heads the feared Haqqani Network, a brutal subset of the Taliban blamed for some of the worst violence of the past 20 years and which has been described by US officials as a “veritable arm” of Pakistani intelligence.

– Doctor turned jihadist –

Zawahiri, 71, lacked the potent charisma that helped bin Laden rally jihadists around the world, but willingly channeled his analytical skills into the Al-Qaeda cause.

He was believed to be the main strategist — the real mastermind who steered operations, including the September 11 attacks, as well as bin Laden’s personal doctor.

Saudi Arabia, the home country of bin Laden as well as many of the 9/11 hijackers, welcomed the announcement of Zawahiri’s death.

“Thousands of innocent people of different nationalities and religions, including Saudi citizens, were killed,” by terrorists under his leadership, the Saudi foreign ministry said.

Al-Qaeda is believed to have been degraded in the years since the US invasion of Afghanistan, and the White House official said Zawahiri was “one of the last remaining figures who carried this kind of significance.”

The organization, agreed Soufan Center researcher Colin Clarke, is “at a crossroads.”

“Despite Zawahiri’s leadership, which minimized AQ’s losses while rebuilding, the group still faces serious challenges going forward. For one, there’s the question of who will lead al Qaeda after Zawahiri’s gone,” he said.

Zawahiri’s father was a renowned physician and his grandfather a prayer leader at Cairo’s Al-Azhar institute, the highest authority for Sunni Muslims.

He became involved with Egypt’s radical Muslim community at a young age and published several books which came for many to symbolize the radical Islamist movement.

He left Egypt in the mid-1980s, heading for Pakistan’s northwestern city of Peshawar where the resistance to the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan was based.

It was at that time, when thousands of Islamist fighters flooded into Afghanistan during the 1980s, that Zawahiri and bin Laden met, and in 1998 he became one of five signatories to bin Laden’s “fatwa” calling for attacks against Americans.

Jihadist monitor SITE said some militants were questioning the veracity of the report he had been killed, while others believed Zawahiri had achieved his desire of “martyrdom.”

As for Al-Qaeda’s future without him, SITE said jihadists were bullish, with one writing: “If Sheikh Ayman al-Zawahiri is dead, there are a thousand Aymans.”

AFP/Punch

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Trump Reveals CCTV of Suspect After Shooting Scare in Washington

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the suspect in the shooting at White House Correspondents’ Dinner

Trump Reveals CCTV of Suspect After Shooting Scare in Washington

U.S. President Donald Trump has released CCTV footage and photographs of the suspect involved in the shooting at White House Correspondents’ Dinner, an incident that triggered panic at one of the most high-profile political gatherings in Washington, D.C.

The footage, shared shortly before the president addressed the media, appears to show the suspect — identified by law enforcement officials as Cole Tomas Allen — rushing through a secured section of the Washington Hilton hotel where the White House Correspondents’ Dinner was taking place.

In the video, the man is seen moving quickly toward the ballroom entrance, appearing to bypass metal detectors and other security layers as armed Secret Service agents close in to intercept him. The breach has raised fresh concerns about security at high-profile U.S. events.

Trump also released still images showing a shirtless man lying face down in a foyer area with his hands restrained behind his back, believed to be the suspect moments after he was apprehended.

Describing the incident, the president labeled the suspect a “would-be assassin,” claiming he was heavily armed and had forced his way past a key security checkpoint. However, authorities have not officially confirmed the attack as an assassination attempt, with investigations ongoing into the suspect’s motive.

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According to officials, the suspect reportedly discharged a weapon during the incident, leading to a confrontation with security personnel. A law enforcement officer was struck by gunfire but survived due to a bullet-resistant vest and is expected to recover.

The incident caused widespread panic inside the venue, with guests — including top government officials, journalists, and dignitaries — diving under tables or fleeing as what sounded like gunshots rang out.

Among those evacuated were Vice President JD Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, all of whom were confirmed safe.

Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser said there was no indication of additional suspects and reassured the public that there was no ongoing threat. Authorities believe the suspect may have acted alone.

Security agencies have since launched a full investigation into the Washington Hilton security breach, focusing on how the suspect managed to penetrate multiple layers of protection at such a heavily secured event.

The annual dinner was abruptly disrupted as officials prioritized safety, with the incident underscoring growing concerns around U.S. political event security amid heightened global tensions.

Trump Reveals CCTV of Suspect After Shooting Scare in Washington

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Trump Evacuated Safely as Gunman Targets White House Correspondents’ Dinner

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Gunman Sparks Chaos at White House Correspondents’ Dinner, Trump Evacuated Safely

Trump Evacuated Safely as Gunman Targets White House Correspondents’ Dinner

A dramatic security breach triggered widespread panic on Saturday night after an armed man stormed the lobby outside the White House Correspondents’ Dinner in Washington, D.C., where Donald Trump and several senior U.S. officials were उपस्थित.

The suspect, identified by law enforcement sources as Cole Tomas Allen, a 31-year-old from Torrance, California, reportedly approached the Washington Hilton armed with guns and knives before rushing toward the ballroom entrance.

According to officials, the situation escalated when the attacker attempted to breach a security checkpoint, prompting a swift response from Secret Service agents. Reports indicate that the suspect opened fire near the venue, causing chaos among attendees gathered inside the ballroom.

Guests at the high-profile event — which hosts leading journalists, politicians, and dignitaries — described hearing gunshots and immediately diving under tables or fleeing for safety. The incident unfolded rapidly, with security personnel moving in to neutralize the threat before the suspect could access the main hall.

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A law enforcement officer was struck during the confrontation but was protected by a bullet-resistant vest and is expected to recover, authorities confirmed.

The Secret Service quickly evacuated President Trump alongside Vice President JD Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. All were confirmed safe and unharmed.

Speaking shortly after the incident at the White House, Trump described the attacker as a “sick person,” adding that early intelligence suggested the suspect acted alone. “When you’re impactful, they go after you,” he said.

Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser reassured the public that there was no ongoing threat, stating that authorities had “no reason” to believe others were involved.

Security agencies have since launched a full investigation into the security breach at White House Correspondents’ Dinner, focusing on how the suspect managed to get close to one of the most heavily guarded political events in the United States.

The annual dinner — a major fixture in the U.S. political calendar — was abruptly halted following the incident, as officials prioritized the safety of attendees amid heightened U.S. security concerns.

The development comes at a sensitive moment for the Trump administration, with several top officials present at the event amid ongoing U.S.-Iran tensions and global security challenges.

Trump Evacuated Safely as Gunman Targets White House Correspondents’ Dinner

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Macron Calls for Strait of Hormuz Reopening as Energy Crisis Fears Mount

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French President Emmanuel Macron
French President Emmanuel Macron

Macron Calls for Strait of Hormuz Reopening as Energy Crisis Fears Mount

French President Emmanuel Macron has reaffirmed efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, warning that continued geopolitical tensions could destabilise global energy supply chains.

He made the remarks on Saturday in Athens during a joint press conference with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, following renewed warnings from energy industry leaders about potential shortages linked to ongoing conflict in the region.

Macron said international efforts are focused on restoring full freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, stressing that the priority is to ensure safe passage for global energy shipments. He added that instability and panic in markets can worsen shortages, even when physical supply remains partially available. According to him, the goal is a full reopening “in the coming days and weeks” in line with international law, to guarantee unrestricted maritime movement.

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His comments came shortly after the chief executive of TotalEnergies, Patrick Pouyanné, warned that prolonged disruption could trigger a global energy crisis. Speaking at the World Policy Conference in France, Pouyanné said the world risks severe supply constraints if the situation continues for two to three months, noting that about 20 percent of global oil and gas normally passes through the Strait of Hormuz.

He warned that if such volumes remain blocked, global markets could face serious scarcity, with Asian economies likely to suffer significant impacts due to their heavy reliance on energy imports through the route.

Movement through the Strait has reportedly been affected by rising tensions linked to the US–Israel–Iran conflict, with reports of vessel seizures and heightened military activity in surrounding waters. The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the most critical global chokepoints for crude oil, liquefied natural gas, and other essential goods such as fertilizers and pharmaceuticals.

Macron also noted that several countries have expressed willingness to participate in a multinational maritime security mission led by France and Britain to protect shipping routes once conditions allow. However, international coordination remains complex, with differing positions among global powers on how to secure the waterway.

He stressed that the current crisis reflects broader geopolitical instability and called for urgent de-escalation to restore stability. According to him, the situation highlights how global economies are exposed to conflicts affecting critical maritime routes.

Macron Calls for Strait of Hormuz Reopening as Energy Crisis Fears Mount

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