US marks 22nd anniversary of 9/11 terror attacks

By Iclal Turan

WASHINGTON (AA) - The US on Monday marked the 22nd anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001 terror attacks, which claimed nearly 3,000 lives when al-Qaeda hijackers struck the US financial and political capitals.

An annual ceremony was held in lower Manhattan, New York at the ground zero memorial, with many Americans, people who lost their loved ones, first responders, and political leaders gathered to commemorate people who died during the attacks.

The ceremony was also joined by Vice President Kamala Harris, and a number of senators, including Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, New York Governor Kathy Hochul, and New York Mayor Eric Adams. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who is seeking to run for president under the Republican Party banner, also attended the ceremony.

On Sept. 11, four passenger airliners were hijacked by al-Qaeda terrorists. Two planes were launched into the twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York City. Another crashed into the Pentagon, headquarters for U.S. Department of Defense in Washington, D.C. The last plane, Flight 93, went down in a Pennsylvania field after its passengers fought back against the hijackers.

A commemoration ceremony was held at the Pentagon to honor 184 lives lost when Flight 77, hijacked by Al-Qaeda, crashed into the building, in one of the deadliest terrorist attacks on US soil.

"We will always honor the memory of our fallen teammates. We will always strive to be worthy of the memory of those we lost," Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said during the ceremony.

"I want to thank them (who lost their lives) and all the families of the fallen," he said, adding: “You changed us forever."

During all the observances, bells rang, a minute of silence was held, and the names of the victims were read.

President Joe Biden will also address more than 1,000 servicemembers, first responders, and their families at a military base in Anchorage, Alaska.

First lady Jill Biden is expected to lay a wreath at the 9/11 memorial at the Pentagon to honor the lives lost on Sept. 11.

Kamala Harris’ husband, Doug Emhoff, will mark the anniversary of the attacks at a ceremony at the Flight 93 National Memorial near Shanksville, Pennsylvania.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken released a statement to mark the 22nd anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks, and to honor the memories of those who lost their lives.

"The men and women of the U.S. Department of State will never forget that tragic day, the many lives lost, and the first responders who rushed into danger to save them. We also remember our colleagues who were killed on this day in 2012 in Benghazi, Libya. Their bravery and sacrifice continue to be an inspiration for this Department and our nation," he wrote in a statement.

"The memory of those who perished on 9/11 reminds us of why we must continue to fight against those who commit acts of terrorism," he said, adding that the US "will continue to defend our homeland, our people, and our allies."