US President confirms that the war on terror has been ongoing since the September 2001 attacks
Washington, Sept 11 (KUNA) – U.S. President Donald Trump affirmed today, Friday, that the war on terrorism has continued since the September 11, 2001 attacks, noting that “the U.S. military operation against Iran comes within this context.” Trump’s remarks came during a speech delivered in front of the U.S. Department of Defense (the Pentagon) to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the September terrorist attacks.
The U.S. President said, “Today we renew the sacred oath we made to ourselves a quarter of a century ago: we will never forget.” He added, “This is why we fight today. We have no other choice. There is no alternative to victory. We fight with strength and we fight for victory.”
He continued, “For 25 years, our elite and bravest soldiers have safeguarded America’s security. Today, we pay tribute to every member of the U.S. military who served in the war on terrorism. It is a war against sick and terrifying terrorism.”
Trump stated, “Today we honor the military personnel who are currently working to ensure that the world’s primary state sponsor of terrorism – the Islamic Republic of Iran – never possesses a nuclear weapon.”
For his part, U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, in his remarks on the occasion, affirmed that the United States remains “vigilant” against terrorism and its sponsors. He referred to the Iranian regime, saying, “Our warriors have fought a regime that wished us death for nearly half a century and cheered the September 11 attacks. It is a regime that has sponsored terrorist attacks against Americans for decades, resulting in the deaths of thousands. But they did not take this president (Trump) into account.” He added, “We ensure that Iran never possesses a nuclear weapon.”
The September 11 attacks, which claimed the lives of nearly 3,000 people in 2001, occurred when 19 members of the al-Qaeda organization hijacked four passenger aircraft operated by two U.S. airlines. Two of the planes, flights 11 and 175, crashed into the North and South Towers of the World Trade Center complex in New York City. The third plane, flight 77, crashed into the Pentagon headquarters in Arlington County, Virginia, near the capital (Washington), causing partial collapse of the building’s western side. The fourth plane, flight 93, was heading toward Washington, D.C., but crashed in a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, after its passengers fought back against the hijackers. (End) Ras R / M M J
