Washington, DC – Representative Gregory W. Meeks, Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, issued the following statement regarding the Biden Administration’s announcement that it successfully carried out a counterterrorism operation against Ayman al-Zawahiri, the leader of al-Qaeda, through a drone strike in Afghanistan: 

“I commend the Biden Administration on its successful operation in eliminatingAyman al-Zawahiri,al-Qaeda’s top leader and one of the key planners of the September 11, 2001 attacks, and a dangerous enemy of the United States.  

“Zawahiri’s death represents a major victory in the fight against terrorismand we owe a debt of gratitude to the many dedicated national security professionals across Administrations who have worked tirelessly to protect the American people from al–Qaeda and other terrorist threats.   

“The operation carried out by the Biden Administration should serve as a reminderthat U.S. counterterrorism capabilitiescontinue to be far reaching and effective in reaching targets, including in Afghanistan.”

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