al-Zawahiri was a symbol but wasn't powerful anymore the Taliban probably wanted to get rid of him.
I can't prove it, but I do suspect the US knew of al-Zawahiri's location in Afghanistan for some time now, and chose to take him out just recently, to get maximum press coverage just before these important primary elections today. As if that would sway independents or undecideds to vote Dem, because.... of "Commander Biden."
