Al-Zawahiri killing only highlights Afghanistan’s problems

Ayman al-Zawahiri was an intellectual driving force of al-Qaeda, and Osama bin Laden’s successor as the Islamist group’s leader since 2011. His death in a US strike in Kabul brings justice of sorts for the families of victims of a string of terrorist atrocities including the 9/11 attacks on the US. It demonstrates America’s ability to continue to mount “over-the-horizon” counter-terrorism operations, nearly a year after the ignominious US withdrawal from Afghanistan. But it may do little in itself to hamper the operational capabilities of al-Qaeda, or reduce the risk of Afghanistan once again becoming a terrorist hub.

The operation will provide a further fillip to Joe Biden’s flagging fortunes, after last week’s breakthrough on a bill that would set aside $369bn for climate and clean energy. It strengthens the US president’s claim that America can still wage war on terrorist groups inside Afghanistan even after last year’s pullout of ground troops and the restoration of brutal Taliban rule.