What Barack Obama said on Al Qaeda Chief Zawahiri's killing

Washington, Aug 02: Former United States president Barack Obama on Tuesday tweeted to welcome the killing of al-Qaeda chief Ayman al-Zawahiri, declaring that the wanted terrorist had 'finally been brought to justice'.

Obama praised president Joe Biden's leadership and recognised the contributions of the intelligence community 'who have been working with decades for this moment'. "More than 20 years after 9/11, one of the masterminds of that terrorist attack and Osama bin Laden's successor as the leader of al-Qaeda - Ayman al-Zawahiri - has finally been brought to justice."

"It's a tribute to President Biden's leadership, to the members of the intelligence community who have been working for decades for this moment, and to the counterterrorism professionals who were able to take al-Zawahiri out without a single civilian casualty."

"Tonight's news is also proof that it's possible to root out terrorism without being at war in Afghanistan. And 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."

Al-Zawahiri was one of five signatories to Osama bin Laden's 1998 "fatwa" calling for attacks against Americans. He was one of Al Qaeda's key strategists who also served as bin Laden's personal doctor.

In an address on Monday evening (local time) from the White House, President Joe Biden - who was the Vice President under Barack Obama at the time of the bin Laden operation - confirmed that Zawahiri had been eliminated.