Al-Qaeda

A global network of militant Islamism challenging the West and moderate Muslim nations.


Al-Qaeda, Arabic for “the Base,” is a broad-based militant Islamist organization founded by Osama bin Laden in the late 1980s. It emerged from the Afghan-Soviet war, evolving into one of the most notorious terrorist groups globally, especially after the September 11, 2001, attacks on the United States. Al-Qaeda started as a logistical network to support Muslims fighting against the Soviet Union in Afghanistan, recruiting members from across the Islamic world. After the Soviet withdrawal, it aimed its opposition towards what it considered corrupt Islamic regimes and the foreign presence in Islamic lands, particularly the United States.

Throughout the 1990s and beyond, Al-Qaeda expanded by merging with other militant Islamist groups, including Egypt’s Islamic Jihad and the Islamic Group. It declared holy war against the United States, establishing training camps for militants worldwide and engaging in numerous terrorist attacks. These include the bombings of U.S. embassies in Nairobi, Kenya, and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, in 1998, and a suicide bomb attack on the USS Cole in Yemen in 2000.

Following the 9/11 attacks, the U.S. led an offensive against Al-Qaeda and the Taliban in Afghanistan, significantly disrupting its operations. Despite this, Al-Qaeda managed to spread its ideology globally, establishing autonomous cells in around 100 countries and affiliating with other terrorist organizations. It has been connected to groups like Egyptian Islamic Jihad, the Libyan Islamic Fighting Group, and others, sharing Sunni Muslim fundamentalist views and training most terrorist groups in Pakistan’s tribal areas.

Al-Qaeda’s leadership has seen significant changes over the years, with Ayman al-Zawahiri taking over after Bin Laden’s death in 2011. The group’s influence has been challenged by internal divisions, the rise of ISIS, and the Arab Spring’s impact on the Arab world. However, it remains a potent symbol and threat in global terrorism, adapting its strategies and continuing to inspire militant activities worldwide​​​​​​.

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