Ayman al-Zawahiri has been on&nbsp;the radar of the United States for several years. He has been running the affairs of al-Qaeda ever since its chief Osama bin Laden&nbsp;was killed in 2011.

He has been in hiding for several years, successfully giving the slip to the US armed forces. Until the announcement by Joe Biden, Zawahiri had been rumoured to be in Pakistan's tribal area or in Afghanistan.

The US drone strike that killed the world’s most wanted terrorist on the balcony of his safe house in Kabul city was the result of months of meticulous planning by the counter-terrorism and intelligence officials.

Among the preparations was a small-scale model of Zawahiri’s safe house constructed by intelligence officials and placed inside the White House Situation Room for Biden to examine as he debated his options, reports CNN.

Notably, Biden wanted not to repeat the US drone strike incident 11 months ago during the chaotic US military withdrawal from Afghanistan in which 10 civilians, including seven children, had been killed.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/taliban-condemn-zawahiri-killing-while-saudi-welcomes-the-move-502760" hreflang="en">Here's how world is reacting to the killing of al Qaeda chief Zawahiri</a>

According to the White House, during the months-long planning to carry out this weekend's strike, Biden repeatedly told his officials to ensure that no civilians, including members of Zawahiri’s family, were killed. And as per their plan, no civilians were killed or injured.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/node/502737" hreflang="en">Al Qaeda leader Zawahiri killed in US strike in Afghanistan, says Biden</a>

A US official privy to the developments spoke to Reuters on the condition of anonymity while disclosing on how Zawahiri was taken out.

<ul>
	<li>The US government for several years had been aware of a network that supported Zawahiri. And following the United States’ withdrawal from Afghanistan last year, officials had been keeping an eye for indications of al Qaeda’s presence in the country.</li>
	<li>This year, officials traced Zawahiri’s family, his wife, his daughter and her children, to a safe house in Kabul and subsequently identified Zawahiri at the same location.</li>
	<li>Over several months, intelligence officials grew more confident that they had correctly identified Zawahiri at the Kabul safe house and in early April started briefing senior administration officials. Jake Sullivan, National Security Adviser, subsequently briefed President Biden.</li>
	<li>“We were able to build a pattern of life through multiple independent sources of information to inform the operation,” the official said.</li>
	<li>Once Zawahiri arrived at the Kabul safe house, officials were not aware of him leaving it and they identified him on its balcony — where he was ultimately struck — on multiple occasions, the official said.</li>
	<li>Officials investigated the construction and nature of the safe house and scrutinized its occupants to ensure the United States could confidently conduct an operation to kill Zawahiri without threatening the structural integrity of the building and minimizing the risk to civilians and Zawahiri’s family, the official said.</li>
	<li>Biden “asked detailed questions about what we knew and how we knew it” and closely examined a model of the safe house the intelligence community had built and brought to the meeting.</li>
	<li>Then the president convened his key Cabinet members and advisers on July 25 for a final briefing and discuss how killing Zawahiri would affect America’s relationship with the Taliban, the official said. After soliciting views from others in the room, Biden authorised “a precise tailored air strike”.</li>
</ul>

(With inputs from agencies)

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Ayman al-Zawahiri has been on the radar of the United States for several years. He has been running the affairs of al-Qaeda ever since its chief Osama bin Laden was killed in 2011.

Ayman al-Zawahiri has been on the radar of the United States for several years. He has been running the affairs of al-Qaeda ever since its chief Osama bin Laden was killed in 2011. He has been in hiding for several years, successfully giving the slip to the US armed forces. Until the announcement by Joe Biden, Zawahiri had been rumoured to be in Pakistan's tribal area or in Afghanistan. The US drone strike that killed the world’s most wanted terrorist on the balcony of his safe house in Kabul city was the result of months of meticulous planning by the counter-terrorism and intelligence officials. Among the preparations was a small-scale model of Zawahiri’s safe house constructed by intelligence officials and placed inside the White House Situation Room for Biden to examine as he debated his options, reports CNN. Notably, Biden wanted not to repeat the US drone strike incident 11 months ago during the chaotic US military withdrawal from Afghanistan in which 10 civilians, including seven children, had been killed. Also read | Here's how world is reacting to the killing of al Qaeda chief Zawahiri According to the White House, during the months-long planning to carry out this weekend's strike, Biden repeatedly told his officials to ensure that no civilians, including members of Zawahiri’s family, were killed. And as per their plan, no civilians were killed or injured. Also read | Al Qaeda leader Zawahiri killed in US strike in Afghanistan, says Biden A US official privy to the developments spoke to Reuters on the condition of anonymity while disclosing on how Zawahiri was taken out. The US government for several years had been aware of a network that supported Zawahiri. And following the United States’ withdrawal from Afghanistan last year, officials had been keeping an eye for indications of al Qaeda’s presence in the country. This year, officials traced Zawahiri’s family, his wife, his daughter and her children, to a safe house in Kabul and subsequently identified Zawahiri at the same location. Over several months, intelligence officials grew more confident that they had correctly identified Zawahiri at the Kabul safe house and in early April started briefing senior administration officials. Jake Sullivan, National Security Adviser, subsequently briefed President Biden. “We were able to build a pattern of life through multiple independent sources of information to inform the operation,” the official said. Once Zawahiri arrived at the Kabul safe house, officials were not aware of him leaving it and they identified him on its balcony — where he was ultimately struck — on multiple occasions, the official said. Officials investigated the construction and nature of the safe house and scrutinized its occupants to ensure the United States could confidently conduct an operation to kill Zawahiri without threatening the structural integrity of the building and minimizing the risk to civilians and Zawahiri’s family, the official said. Biden “asked detailed questions about what we knew and how we knew it” and closely examined a model of the safe house the intelligence community had built and brought to the meeting. Then the president convened his key Cabinet members and advisers on July 25 for a final briefing and discuss how killing Zawahiri would affect America’s relationship with the Taliban, the official said. After soliciting views from others in the room, Biden authorised “a precise tailored air strike”. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Safe house, mock drills and meticulous planning: The secret operation behind al-Zawahiri’s killing

As US defence secretary Lloyd Austin apologised for the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-drone-strike-may-have-killed-aid-worker-children-and-not-isis-k-militants-reports-412228">drone strike </a>in Kabul that mistakenly killed ten&nbsp;civilians, including children, WION's Anas Mallick visited the house of Emal Ahmadi whose brother and children were killed in the airstrike.

Emal informed that five children were inside the car and some were around the car when the drone strike took place. Emal informed that his brother's son was trying to park the car when the drone strike occurred. He showed the slippers of the deceased who were killed during the strike.

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Emal Ahmadi, whose brother &amp; children were killed in an airstrike by the US in Kabul, has said he wants the US to compensate for his loss <a href="https://twitter.com/eriknjoka?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@eriknjoka</a> talks to <a href="https://twitter.com/AnasMallick?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AnasMallick</a> to bring you the details 
 
For more videos, visit: <a href="https://t.co/dm7SyBIpO6">https://t.co/dm7SyBIpO6</a> <a href="https://t.co/puMuIE6fwR">pic.twitter.com/puMuIE6fwR</a>
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Emal demanded compensation from the US government including a safe passage out of Afghanistan as he urged&nbsp;the US government to punish those involved in the strike. He said the US government officials haven't reached out to him.

The US drone strike was conducted on August 29 as the evacuation was taking place in Afghanistan just days after the ISIS-K suicide attack in which 13 US service members were killed including several Afghans along Kabul airport.

Emal thanked WION for coming to the spot while showing the damaged vehicle. Emal lost ten&nbsp;family members including his own daughter. US General Frank McKenzie conceded that seven children were killed in the airstrike.

Watch:

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/us-claims-to-hit-isis-k-targets-in-kabul-ends-up-killing-innocent-civilians-414048/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

McKenzie said it was "unlikely" that those who died in the car were associated with ISIS-K terrorists while expressing condolences to those who were killed during the strike.

"This strike was conducted in the earnest belief that it would prevent an imminent threat to our forces and the evacuees at the airport, McKenzie added, "but it was a mistake", he said.

"As a combatant commander, I am fully responsible for this strike and its tragic outcome," McKenzie said.

(With inputs from Agencies)

As US defence secretary Lloyd Austin apologised for the drone strike in Kabul that mistakenly killed ten civilians, including children, WION's Anas Mallick visited the house of Emal Ahmadi whose brother and children were killed in the airstrike.

As US defence secretary Lloyd Austin apologised for the drone strike in Kabul that mistakenly killed ten civilians, including children, WION's Anas Mallick visited the house of Emal Ahmadi whose brother and children were killed in the airstrike. Emal informed that five children were inside the car and some were around the car when the drone strike took place. Emal informed that his brother's son was trying to park the car when the drone strike occurred. He showed the slippers of the deceased who were killed during the strike. Emal Ahmadi, whose brother & children were killed in an airstrike by the US in Kabul, has said he wants the US to compensate for his loss @eriknjoka talks to @AnasMallick to bring you the details For more videos, visit: https://t.co/dm7SyBIpO6 pic.twitter.com/puMuIE6fwR — WION (@WIONews) September 18, 2021 × Emal demanded compensation from the US government including a safe passage out of Afghanistan as he urged the US government to punish those involved in the strike. He said the US government officials haven't reached out to him. The US drone strike was conducted on August 29 as the evacuation was taking place in Afghanistan just days after the ISIS-K suicide attack in which 13 US service members were killed including several Afghans along Kabul airport. Emal thanked WION for coming to the spot while showing the damaged vehicle. Emal lost ten family members including his own daughter. US General Frank McKenzie conceded that seven children were killed in the airstrike. Watch: McKenzie said it was "unlikely" that those who died in the car were associated with ISIS-K terrorists while expressing condolences to those who were killed during the strike. "This strike was conducted in the earnest belief that it would prevent an imminent threat to our forces and the evacuees at the airport, McKenzie added, "but it was a mistake", he said. "As a combatant commander, I am fully responsible for this strike and its tragic outcome," McKenzie said. (With inputs from Agencies)

Exclusive: Brother of Afghan killed in US drone strike demands compensation; thanks WION

According to ISIS-K propaganda magazine, the terrorist who conducted the suicide attack on American service members and Afghans at the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/we-apologise-us-admits-kabul-airstrike-killed-10-civilians-not-isis-k-militants-413889">Kabul</a> airport on August 26 was arrested in India five years ago.

The terrorist organisation claimed Abdur Rahman al-Logri had travelled to Delhi and was caught by authorities in the capital in 2016.&nbsp;

Al-Logri was reportedly set to carry out a suicide attack in India's capital. He was imprisoned and later deported to Afghanistan, the propaganda channel claimed.

Watch:

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/isis-k-suicide-bomber-who-attacked-kabul-airport-was-held-in-delhi-414105/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

The ISIS-K terrorist had carried out a&nbsp;suicide attack last month in which 13 US service members were killed including several Afghans.

After the attack, US President Joe Biden had said the country will continue its fight against terrorism in Afghanistan, warning the ISIS-K, "We are not done with you yet."

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/exclusive-brother-of-afghan-killed-in-us-drone-strike-demands-compensation-thanks-wion-414114">Also Read:&nbsp;Brother of Afghan killed in US drone strike demands compensation; thanks WION</a>

The ISIS-K is believed to largely comprise of terrorists from the breakaway Pakistan Taliban group. ISIS-K reportedly belongs to&nbsp;the Islamic State's Afghanistan-Pakistan chapter and has been active in northeastern Afghanistan. The terror group&nbsp;had pledged allegiance to slain IS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.

It was responsible for carrying out&nbsp;attacks on&nbsp;mosques, shrines and&nbsp;public squares in Afghanistan. &nbsp;

According to United Nations monitors, the terrorist group had "sleeper cells" in parts of Pakistan and Afghanistan, including Kabul with at least 500 fighters in the group.

According to ISIS-K propaganda magazine, the terrorist who conducted the suicide attack on American service members and Afghans at the Kabul airport on August 26 was arrested in India five years ago.

According to ISIS-K propaganda magazine, the terrorist who conducted the suicide attack on American service members and Afghans at the Kabul airport on August 26 was arrested in India five years ago. The terrorist organisation claimed Abdur Rahman al-Logri had travelled to Delhi and was caught by authorities in the capital in 2016. Al-Logri was reportedly set to carry out a suicide attack in India's capital. He was imprisoned and later deported to Afghanistan, the propaganda channel claimed. Watch: The ISIS-K terrorist had carried out a suicide attack last month in which 13 US service members were killed including several Afghans. After the attack, US President Joe Biden had said the country will continue its fight against terrorism in Afghanistan, warning the ISIS-K, "We are not done with you yet." Also Read: Brother of Afghan killed in US drone strike demands compensation; thanks WION The ISIS-K is believed to largely comprise of terrorists from the breakaway Pakistan Taliban group. ISIS-K reportedly belongs to the Islamic State's Afghanistan-Pakistan chapter and has been active in northeastern Afghanistan. The terror group had pledged allegiance to slain IS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. It was responsible for carrying out attacks on mosques, shrines and public squares in Afghanistan. According to United Nations monitors, the terrorist group had "sleeper cells" in parts of Pakistan and Afghanistan, including Kabul with at least 500 fighters in the group.

Suicide bomber who carried out Kabul airport attack was arrested in Delhi earlier, claims ISIS-K