Ayman al-Zawahiri hiding in YOUR house? It’s more likely than you think. At least, that was the case for one Veteran that discovered the ex-al-Qaeda leader was in his old place of residence. Okay, maybe this isnโt the most common thing to occur in the world, but the fact that itโs happened once is pretty spectacular. Learn more about a not-so-odd coincidence that would place the leader of the most notorious terrorist group in history living in a place an American Veteran once called home.
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Imagine Ayman al-Zawahiri Hiding in Your Old Home
You may have noticed that Ayman al-Zawahiri has been in the news lately ever since the CIA murked his @$$ with quite possibly the coolest missile ever to not officially exist. But the story took an interesting twist when U.S. Army Veteran Capt. Dan Smock discovered the attack took place at his old home.
โIt got reported he was killed in Sherpur, and they circled the broader neighborhood and Iโm like, โThatโs the neighborhood we lived in. Oh ($#!t), thatโs my house, and itโs like, โHe died on the balcony.โ Well, understandable, itโs a nice balcony,โ said Smock.
Known as the โpoppy palacesโ due to the number of warlords and drug dealers that call it home, the neighborhood in Kabul, Afghanistan, that was struck has many similar-looking homes. However, Dan Smock was able to confirm that it was his old home through The Guardian.
Despite how the homes โall look the same,โ according to Smock, he had a heavy hunch. It was the homeโs two horizontal structures under the balcony that were a dead giveaway, as these features were unique to his old home, unlike other structures in the area.
Capt. Smock had lived in Kabul during his work as a contractor for the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). His latest known time in the area was in 2013 during his work helping the organization with its efforts of delivering healthcare to those who lack access.
Hiding a Terrorist Is All About the 3 Lโs: Location, Location, Location
Iโve never had to hide an internationally wanted terrorist responsible for the deaths of thousands across the globe, but Iโd imagine it could be difficult. Iโm not sure if the Hiltons and Holiday Inns of the world have explicit terms and conditions forbidding men who orchestrated 9/11 from staying at their properties, but you’d have to think itโs at least frowned upon by the organizations.
This is what made this particular home so great. It had great views, was in perfect proximity to his underground terrorist organization, and was in a place big enough for the whole family that still wouldnโt raise any eyebrows.
Even Smock thought it was a good idea, saying that it would make sense to go โfull al-Qaeda Airbnb and [stash] him there.โ Making a note of how the home is in the back corner of the neighborhood with a โbig open field,โ it seems to make a great place to stash terrorists. โIf Iโm the Taliban and Iโm like, someday we might need to do something about this guy, thatโs where Iโd put him,โ Smock commented.
Ayman al-Zawahiriโs location has likely changed over the years, as heโs evaded U.S. forces for decades. Although found in the now Taliban-controlled nation of Afghanistan, the government has denied having knowledge of his existence in the country.
And if you can believe that, I have some magic beans Iโd love to sell you. Send a DM.
Ayman al-Zawahiriโs Demise Makes the World a Better Place
Look, we all have our issues. Who am I to judge another man when we’re all trying our best to navigate this crazy thing we call life? Iโm no morality police, but planning terrorist attacks is wrong.
There, I said it. I donโt care who disagrees! Probably not the boldest statement, but here we are.
Al-Zawahiriโs involvement today is up for debate, but itโs a step towards whatever you can get for the victims of his attacks as well as those who were lost defending freedom. Itโs not justice (there never can be), but itโs something that hopefully helps prevent future attacks.
The world is a strange place with interesting stories, even if some are connected to disturbing people. But remember, the chances of Ayman al-Zawahiri or any terrorist leader moving into your old home are slimโฆ but never zero.
Related read: Who Was Al Qaeda Leader Ayman al-Zawahiri & Who Gets His Bounty?
Image: BBC/AP