FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
August 1, 2022
Contact: press@defensepriorities.org
WASHINGTON, DC—Today, the U.S. confirmed that it conducted a drone strike in Afghanistan over the weekend which eliminated al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahri. Defense Priorities Fellow Daniel DePetris issued the following statement in response:
“The targeted killing of Al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahri in a CIA drone strike in Afghanistan underscores a critical fact: The U.S. need not permanently deploy military forces to defend against terrorist threats. Targeted air strikes or raids have proven to be a more efficient, less costly way to neutralize anti-U.S. terrorist groups. Zawahri is the latest in a long list of senior terrorist leaders, operatives, and facilitators to be taken off the battlefield, including Osama bin Laden and Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.
“U.S. drone strikes will remain a useful tool in counterterrorism efforts, but policymakers should guard against over-use and reserve this extraordinary measure for terrorist groups that possess both the capability and intent to strike the U.S. or our vital interests.”
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