President Obama reiterated that “core al Qaeda” has been “decimated,” but said regional affiliates still present dangers. Reports indicate that the recent closure of more than 20 US diplomatic facilities abroad stemmed from communications between al Qaeda emir Ayman al Zawahiri and multiple regional subordinates. US and Russian officials agreed to work on military cooperation and plan for a Syrian peace conference. The charge of obstruction of justice was added to charges filed against Kazakhstan nationals Dias Kadyrbayev and Azamat Tazhayakov, friends of Boston bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev. The US plans to reopen 18 diplomatic facilities on Sunday, but will keep its embassies in Yemen and Pakistan shut for security reasons.
