Al-qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri, one of the masterminds of the September 11, 2001, attacks on the World Trade Center towers (twin towers ), was shot down Sunday morning by US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) drones, according to the US President.

Joe Biden said Monday that U.S. forces successfully carried out the operation, under his direction.

"For decades he was responsible for orchestrating attacks against American citizens. Now, justice has been served and this terrorist leader no longer exists," Biden stressed in a communication from the White House to confirm the death of the terrorist who "was deeply involved in planning the 9/11 attacks."

He also stressed that the US "continues to demonstrate its ability to defend American citizens from those who wish to do harm" to the country. "No matter how long it takes, no matter where you hide, if you are a threat to the people of the United States, we will find you and we will eliminate you," he stressed, addressing "all those around the world who want to harm the United States.

A senior US government official had revealed to journalists that an "anti-terrorist operation against a major al-Qaeda target" took place over the weekend in Afghanistan. The US media immediately reported that the target of a "successful" Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) drone strike in Kabul was al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri.

Joe Biden revealed that US intelligence agents tracked Al-Zawahiri, who was in a house in downtown Kabul, hiding with his family. The US head of state approved the operation last week on Monday, and it was carried out on Sunday morning, he added.

According to the White House, only the al-Qaeda leader died in the operation, and there was no collateral damage, not even to the family members of the leader of the terrorist organization, and the same information was conveyed by Biden. A US official stressed to the news agency France-Presse (AFP) that the operation took place without any military presence on the ground.