The U.S. State Department has issued a worldwide caution alert for Americans in the wake of the successful counterterrorism operation which killed Ayman al-Zawahiri, Osama bin Laden's deputy and successor as leader of al-Qaeda.
“Following al-Zawahiri's death, supporters of Al Qaeda, or its affiliated terrorist organizations, may seek to attack U.S. facilities, personnel, or citizens,” the alert said. “As terrorist attacks often occur without warning, U.S. citizens are strongly encouraged to maintain a high level of vigilance and practice good situational awareness when traveling abroad.”
The Tuesday evening advisory was issued out of heightened concern terrorists will retaliate against U.S. interests or target U.S. citizens as revenge for the drone strike. The message warned that citizens should be on alert for the possibility of suicide operations, assassinations, kidnappings, hijackings and bombings.
On Monday, President Joe Biden praised the successful CIA operation that led to the termination of Zawahiri, despite criticizing the previous administration for similar counterterrorism efforts.
“To those around the world who continue to seek to harm the United States, hear me now: We will always remain vigilant, and we will act,” the president said. “And we will always do what is necessary to ensure the safety and security of Americans at home and around the globe.”
However, in 2020 Biden took a different tone towards the Trump administration's successful operation which terminated Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani.
According to Fox News:
“No American will mourn Qassem Soleimani's passing. He deserved to be brought to justice for his crimes against American troops and thousands of innocents throughout the region. He supported terror and sowed chaos,” Biden said. “None of that negates the fact that this is a hugely escalatory move in an already dangerous region.”
“The Administration's statement says that its goal is to deter a future attack by Iran, but this action almost certainly will have the opposite effect,” said Biden. “President Trump just tossed a stick of dynamite into a tinderbox, and he owes the American people an explanation of the strategy and plan to keep safe our troops and embassy personnel, our people and our interests, both here at home and abroad, and our partners through the region and beyond.”
The killing of Zawahri comes as the U.S. approaches the first anniversary of the botched withdrawal from Afghanistan which resulted in the death of seven U.S. service members.
While Biden has categorized the CIA operation as a resounding success, some experts have already cast doubt on Biden's claims al-Qaeda is “gone” from Afghanistan.
According to The Daily Wire:
“The killing of Al Qaeda emir Ayman al Zawahiri will be sold as a counterterrorism success. But that narrative masks the undeniable truth that Taliban-controlled Afghanistan is a safe have for Al Qaeda,” Bill Roggio, a terrorism analyst at the Long War Journal, tweeted. “The strike that killed Zawahiri is the first since the U.S withdrawal 1+ months ago. The U.S. saved best for first, and made the first counterterrorism strike count.”
“Zawahiri was killed in the Sherpur neighborhood, in a home run by a deputy of Sirajuddin Haqqani. Sirajuddin is of course one of two deputy Taliban emirs as well as the interior minister,” he continued. “Zawahiri could not operate in Afghanistan – particularly in Kabul – without the consent of the Taliban. He wasn't in the remote mountains of Kunar, Nuristan, or Nangarhar, or distant provinces of Ghazni, Helmand, or Kandahar. He was in the Taliban's capital.”
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Great can we carry arms onboard in luggage or get arms at destination??
I thought his name was ZAWAHRI, even if folks call him ZawaHIri. I suppose it’s like NUCLEAR. The Silicon Valley geeks and Left Coasters all say ‘NUCULAR’…