News - Middle East: Americans have commemorated the 21st anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States that left nearly 3,000 people dead.   

Ceremonies were being held on Sunday across the country to remember the victims, including the recital of the names of the dead, tolling of church bells, and a tribute at the site where New York City's twin towers tumbled.
The ceremonies were held at the places where hijacked jets crashed on September 11, 2001 — the World Trade Center in New York, the Pentagon, and a field in Pennsylvania.

Americans marked the day with candlelight vigils, interfaith services and other commemorations. Some Americans are joining in volunteer projects on a day that is federally recognized as both Patriot Day and a National Day of Service and Remembrance.

On Sunday, US President Joe Biden spoke and laid a wreath at the Pentagon, while first lady Jill Biden was scheduled to speak in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, where one of the hijacked planes went down after passengers and crew members tried to storm the cockpit as the alleged hijackers headed for Washington.

Biden touted the killings of two al Qaeda leaders following the 9/11 attacks.

“The enduring resolve of the American people to defend ourselves against those who seek us harm and deliver justice to those responsible for the attacks against our people has never once faltered,” Biden said.

“It took 10 years to hunt down and kill Osama bin Laden, but we did, and this summer I authorized a successful strike on [Ayman] al-Zawahiri,” he continued.

Vice President Kamala Harris and husband Doug Emhoff were due at the National Sept. 11 Memorial in New York, but by tradition, no political figures speak at the ground zero ceremony. It centers instead on victims’ relatives reading aloud the names of the dead.