Biden Claims Al Qaeda Leader Ayman al-Zawahiri Has Been Killed — For the 4th Time?

Al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri has allegedly been killed.

Joe Biden made a statement taking credit for the US drone strikes that killed the Al-Qaeda emir.

Al-Zawahiri was known as Bin Laden’s ‘number two.’

There’s just one small problem…

Ayman al-Zawahiri has been reported dead on several occasions over the last decade and change.

The timing of his latest death seems a bit suspect…

The US has killed the head of al-Qaeda, Ayman al-Zawahiri, in a drone strike in Afghanistan, President Joe Biden says https://t.co/1mdBFezz3H

— BBC Breaking News (@BBCBreaking) August 1, 2022

The BBC reported on Biden’s claim that US drone strikes had killed the Al-Qaeda leader:

The US has killed the leader of al-Qaeda, Ayman al-Zawahiri, in a drone strike in Afghanistan, President Joe Biden has confirmed.

He was killed in a counter-terrorism operation carried out by the CIA in the Afghan capital Kabul on Sunday.

He and Osama Bin Laden plotted the 9/11 attacks together, and he was one of America’s most wanted terrorists.

Mr Biden said al-Zawahiri had “carved a trail of murder and violence against American citizens”.

“From hiding, he co-ordinated al-Qaeda’s branches and all around the world, including setting priorities for providing operational guidance and calling for and inspired attacks against US targets,” the president said in a live television address from the White House.

“Now justice has been delivered and this terrorist leader is no more,” he added.

Joe Biden was quick to take credit:

On Saturday, at my direction, the United States successfully conducted an airstrike in Kabul, Afghanistan that killed the emir of al-Qa’ida: Ayman al-Zawahiri.

Justice has been delivered.

— President Biden (@POTUS) August 1, 2022

BREAKING: Al Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri was killed in a U.S. airstrike in Afghanistan, President Biden says. https://t.co/mGuvS70cHd pic.twitter.com/LPwGjCiwju

— NBC News (@NBCNews) August 1, 2022

This is great news of course.

The problem is, Ayman al-Zawahiri has been reported dead before…

Al Qaeda Leader Ayman al-Zawahiri Is Dead…for at Least the 4th Timehttps://t.co/cZJUUoiFhZ

— Adaya77 (@Adaya77) August 3, 2022

PJ Media reports on the other times al-Zawahiri was pronounced dead, including just two years ago:

Zawahiri was also thought to be dead in 2020. Democrat think tank The Brookings Institution said, “al-Zawahri may be dead or at least appears to be ‘completely off the grid,’ according to journalist and veteran jihadi-watcher Hassan Hassan. These reports come at the same time as the killing of another very senior al-Qaida leader, Abu Muhammad al-Masri, in Tehran, reportedly by Israeli agents at the behest of the United States.”

So take this news as you will, but I wouldn’t post it if it’s just a rumor. It is making the rounds in jihadi close circles, and at least some are treating it as confirmed news.

— Hassan I. Hassan (@hxhassan) November 13, 2020

Also in 2008:

In 2008, Zawahiri was reported dead by Pakistani intelligence — making the story immediately suspect to western sources. Longwar Journal’s Bill Roggio reported at the time that “rumors of Zawahiri’s death or wounding began four days after what appears to be a US Predator unmanned aerial vehicle strike on a madrassa in the village of Zeralita in the Azam Warsak region of South Waziristan.” Roggio recounted that “six people, including three Arabs, were reported killed in the attack. The madrassa was said to be a safe house and meeting place for senior al Qaeda commanders.” CBS later reported that Zawahiri was gravely wounded in the attack. Yet, Zawahiri miraculously rose from the dead or hospital bed.

Ayman al-Zawahiri was maybe dead in 2008 and then maybe dead again in 2020. The US national security state swears it's for real this time. https://t.co/xcD6ysl8y4

— Jamie Samsa (@jamiedyer_) August 1, 2022

https://twitter.com/A13KCF1/status/1554371367134699520?s=20&t=ChZdo5klMoF1JaiM4-zKNg

Didn't that terrorist die two years ago?https://t.co/PYkizqfHvXhttps://t.co/FY3jZyD0MX

— Stop Lying, Stop Crying (@juststopthelie) August 2, 2022

#Bajwa dials ClA station head – “Ayman al-Zawahiri dead due to illness/old age. Do we give #AymanAlZawahiri a quiet burial in a secret grave?”@CIA station head – “Hold on General ”. Will call back in a couple of hours.@JoeBiden – terrorist Ayman al-Zawahiri died twice? pic.twitter.com/KCl1x6X9Hb

— Kanwaljit Arora (@mekarora) August 3, 2022

Which scenario is more believable? Ayman al-Zawahiri reported dead from asthma more than a year ago or we “ killed “ him twice to boost Brandon’s approval rating ? pic.twitter.com/LEHFAt5OQf

— VeBee🇺🇸✝️ (@VeBo1991) August 2, 2022

Additionally, there were reports of his death in 2006 and 2008.

Zawahiri and Gadahn, for example, have a habit of reappearing after U.S. strikes that are said to have killed or wounded them. Zawahiri was thought dead in a 2006 CIA airstrike, only to reemerge on video shortly after. He also survived a 2008 strike. https://t.co/Zcl279omlR"

— Peter Kolding (@pkolding) August 1, 2022

How many times have Zawahiri been claimed dead? Remember reading about the January 2006 missile attacks in Bajaur targeting him. He was supposed to be present there but 18 Pakistanis got killed.

— Habiba (@LazY_CheRRy0) August 1, 2022

He was also briefly assumed dead in 2014.

Human rights group @Reprieve reported in 2014 that two prior drone strikes attempting to kill Ayman al-Zawahiri had resulted in 105 deaths. https://t.co/g6iGEYHcNJ

h/t @voiceinwild

— Carwil Bjork-James (@CarwilBJ) August 3, 2022

This guy sure dies a lot…

The timing of this latest death sure seems to benefit Biden.

It's great news that Al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri has been killed.

Ayman was heavily involved in the 9/11 attacks and this was long overdue.

Don't give Biden credit for this, give our brave heroes who put their lives on the line all the credit.

— Brigitte Gabriel (@ACTBrigitte) August 1, 2022

Biden is going to go on TV tonight and brag about killing Al Qaeda's leader Ayman al-Zawahiri in Afghanistan.

The Taliban was supposed to keep Al Qaeda out of Afghanistan. Will Joe Biden take action to hold them accountable?

— Brigitte Gabriel (@ACTBrigitte) August 1, 2022

Joe Biden said himself that he wouldn't have made the call to kill Osama bin Laden.

The only reason he approved the drone strike on Ayman al-Zawahiri is because of his tanking poll numbers.

— Nick Adams (Alpha Male) (@NickAdamsinUSA) August 1, 2022

U.S. forces have taken out al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri, which is good news for America.

At the same time, dozens of individuals on the terror watch list have streamed in illegally via Biden's wide open southern border.

— Monica Crowley (@MonicaCrowley) August 1, 2022

CIA had been “looking for” Ayman al-Zawahiri for 20 years.

Funny how they finally found him when Biden was at his most desperate for a WIN.

— James Bradley (@JamesBradleyCA) August 3, 2022