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{{DISPLAYTITLE:al-Qaeda}}
{{redirect|Al-Qaidah|the Iraqi newspaper|Al-Qaidah (newspaper)}}
{{Use American English|date=May 2015}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2020}}
{{Infobox war faction
|name=Al-Qaeda
|native_name = القاعدة
|native_name_lang = ar
|war= the [[War on Terror|Global War on Terrorism]], [[Afghanistan conflict (1978–present)|Afghanistan conflict]], [[Insurgency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa]], [[Somali Civil War]], [[Insurgency in the Maghreb (2002–present)|Insurgency in the Maghreb]], [[Iraq War]], [[Iraqi insurgency (2011–present)|Iraqi insurgency]], [[al-Qaeda insurgency in Yemen]], [[Syrian Civil War]], [[Arab Spring]], and [[List of wars and battles involving al-Qaeda|other conflicts]]
|image=Flag of al-Qaeda.svg
|caption=Flag used by various al-Qaeda factions
|active=1988–present
|ideology= [[Salafist jihadism]]<ref name="Moghadam">{{cite book| last = Moghadam| first = Assaf| title = The Globalization of Martyrdom: Al Qaeda, Salafi Jihad, and the Diffusion of Suicide Attacks| url = https://archive.org/details/globalizationofm0000mogh| year = 2008| publisher = Johns Hopkins University| isbn = 978-0-8018-9055-0| page = [https://archive.org/details/globalizationofm0000mogh/page/48 48] }}</ref><ref name="SalafistJidadism">{{cite web|title=Special Reports – The Salafist Movement: Al Qaeda's New Front|url=https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/front/special/sala.html|last=Livesey|first=Bruce|work=PBS Frontline|publisher=WGBH educational foundation|date=January 25, 2005|accessdate=October 18, 2011 }} {{cite book|last1=Geltzer|first1=Joshua A.|title=US Counter-Terrorism Strategy and al-Qaeda: Signalling and the Terrorist World-View|date=2011|publisher=Routledge|isbn=978-0-415-66452-3|page=83|edition=Reprint}}</ref> [[Wahhabism]] [[Qutbism]]<ref>Wright, ''Looming Tower'', 2006, p. 79</ref> [[Pan-Islamism]]<ref name="spiegel1">{{cite web|url=http://www.spiegel.de/international/0,1518,369448,00.html |title=The Future of Terrorism: What al-Qaida Really Wants |work=Der Spiegel |date=September 11, 2001 |accessdate=October 18, 2011 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120307084609/http://www.spiegel.de/international/0%2C1518%2C369448%2C00.html |archivedate=March 7, 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="PanIslamism">{{cite news|url=http://my.telegraph.co.uk/riteman/riteway/16309030/al-qaeda-seeks-global-dominance/|title=Al-Qaeda seeks global dominance|location=London|work=The Daily Telegraph|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120112142751/http://my.telegraph.co.uk/riteman/riteway/16309030/al-qaeda-seeks-global-dominance/|archivedate=January 12, 2012}} {{cite web|url=http://www.thepolitic.com/archives/2005/07/27/jihadists-want-global-caliphate/|title=Jihadists Want Global Caliphate|publisher=ThePolitic.com|date=July 27, 2005|accessdate=October 18, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110930020925/http://www.thepolitic.com/archives/2005/07/27/jihadists-want-global-caliphate/|archive-date=September 30, 2011|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}} {{cite web|author=Pike, John|url=http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/para/al-qaida.htm|title=Al-Qaida|publisher=Globalsecurity.org|accessdate=October 18, 2011}} {{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2004/mar/21/alqaida.terrorism|location=London|work=The Guardian|first=Jason|last=Burke|title=What exactly does al-Qaeda want?|date=March 21, 2004}}</ref> [[Anti-Communism]]<ref name="AntiSoviet">{{cite court|litigants=United States v. Usama bin Laden et al.|volume=S (7) 98|reporter=Cr.|opinion=1023|pinpoint=Testimony of Jamal Ahmed Mohamed al-Fadl|court=[[United States District Court for the Southern District of New York|SDNY]]|date=February 6, 2001|url=http://cryptome.org/usa-v-ubl-02.htm}} {{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/1670089.stm|title=Al-Qaeda's origins and links|publisher=BBC News|date=July 20, 2004|accessdate=June 3, 2014}} {{cite book|last=Cooley |first=John K. |authorlink=John K. Cooley |title=Unholy Wars: Afghanistan, America and International Terrorism |url=https://archive.org/details/unholywarsafghan0000cool_w4p3 |date=Spring 2003 }}</ref> [[Anti-Zionism]]<ref name="Time1999">{{cite magazine|url=http://content.time.com/time/printout/0,8816,17676,00.html|title=Conversation With Terror|magazine=Time|date=January 1999|accessdate=March 22, 2015}}</ref><ref name="Letter2002">{{cite web| url = http://www.theguardian.com/world/2002/nov/24/theobserver | title = October 6, 2002. Appeared in Al-Qala'a website and then ''The Observer'' and ''The Guardian'' on November 24, 2002. | website = [[TheGuardian.com]] | date = November 24, 2002 |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20130826184301/http://www.theguardian.com/world/2002/nov/24/theobserver |archivedate = 2013-08-26 }}</ref> [[Antisemitism]]<ref name=Time1999 /><ref name=Letter2002 /><ref name="May1998">{{cite web|url=http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/binladen/who/interview.html|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/19990508145341/http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/binladen/who/interview.html|title=frontline: the terrorist and the superpower: who is bin laden?: interview with osama bin laden (in may 1998)|archivedate=May 8, 1999|publisher=pbs.org}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.adl.org/blog/new-isis-and-al-qaeda-propaganda-prioritize-the-us-and-jews-as-targets|title=New ISIS and Al-Qaeda propaganda prioritize the US and Jews as targets|website=Anti-Defamation League}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.adl.org/blog/isis-augments-its-threats-against-israel|title=ISIS Augments Its Threats Against Israel|website=Anti-Defamation League|access-date=2019-06-06|archive-date=2017-08-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170823115829/https://www.adl.org/blog/isis-augments-its-threats-against-israel|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|clans=Al-Qaeda Central (1988–present) 
[[Al-Qaeda in Iraq]] (2004–2013, became [[Mujahideen Shura Council (Iraq)|Mujahideen Shura Council]] in January 2006) 
[[Mujahideen Shura Council (Iraq)|Mujahideen Shura Council]] (January 2006–October 2006, became [[Islamic State of Iraq]] in October 2006) 
[[Islamic State of Iraq]] (2006–2013) 
[[Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant]] (2013–2014) 
[[Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb]] (2007–present) 
[[Tawhid al-Jihad (Gaza Strip)|Al-Qaeda in Palestine]] (2008–present) 
[[Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula]] (2009–present) 
[[Al-Shabaab (militant group)|Al-Qaeda in Somalia]] (2010–present) 
[[Al-Nusra Front|Al-Qaeda in the Levant]] (2012–2017, became [[Tahrir al-Sham]] in January 2017) 
[[Tahrir al-Sham]] (alleged, 2017–present) 
[[Al-Mourabitoun (militant group)|Al-Mourabitoun]] (2013–2015, joined [[AQIM]] in December 2015) 
[[Jund al-Aqsa]] (2014–2017) 
[[Al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent]] (2014–present) 
[[Khorasan Group]] 
[[Al-Qaeda in Sinai Peninsula]] 
[[Imam Shamil Battalion]] 
[[Guardians of Religion Organization]] (2018–present) 
[[Al-Qaeda Kurdish Battalions]] 
[[Ansaru|Al Qaeda in the Lands Beyond the Sahel]]
[[Al-Qaeda in Bosnia and Herzegovina]] 
[[Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin|Al-Qaeda in Mali]] 
[[Abu Hafs al-Masri Brigades|Al-Qaeda in Spain]] 
[[Tanzim Qaedat al-Jihad|Al-Qaeda in the Malay Archipelago]]
|leaders=[[Osama bin Laden]]{{KIA}} (1988–2011) [[Ayman al-Zawahiri]]{{KIA}} (2011–2022)
|area=Worldwide 
Predominantly in the Middle East 
[[List of active rebel groups#Groups which control territory|Rebel group with current territorial control in:]]
* [[Somalia]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.polgeonow.com/2013/05/somalia-war-map-al-shabaab-2013.html|title=War in Somalia: Map of Al Shabaab Control (June 2013)|date=May 31, 2013|accessdate=August 18, 2014|publisher=Political Geography Now|author=Evan Centanni}}</ref>
* [[Syria]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.plenglish.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3847431&Itemid=1|title=Prensa Latina News Agency|accessdate=April 12, 2016}}</ref>
* [[Yemen]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/yemen/aden-intellgence-service-building-targeted-1.1570990|title=Aden intelligence service building targeted|date=August 22, 2015|accessdate=August 22, 2015|publisher=Gulf News|work=AFP}}</ref>
|strength={{unbulleted list
| In the Af-Pak region: <100 (2011)<ref>{{cite web|author=Bill Roggio|url=http://www.longwarjournal.org/threat-matrix/archives/2011/04/how_many_al_qaeda_operatives_a.php |title=How many al Qaeda operatives are now left in Afghanistan? |publisher=Longwarjournal.org |date=April 26, 2011 |accessdate=April 10, 2014}}</ref> 300–3,000 (2012–14)<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/21/al-qaeda-afghanistan-comeback_n_1997994.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121023084738/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/21/al-qaeda-afghanistan-comeback_n_1997994.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 23, 2012 |title=Al Qaeda in Afghanistan Is Attempting A Comeback |work=The Huffington Post |date=October 21, 2012 |accessdate=April 10, 2014 }}</ref><ref name="telegraph.co.uk">{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/al-qaeda/10893889/Al-Qaeda-map-Isis-Boko-Haram-and-other-affiliates-strongholds-across-Africa-and-Asia.html |title=Al-Qaeda map: Isis, Boko Haram and other affiliates' strongholds across Africa and Asia |date=June 12, 2014 |accessdate=August 29, 2014}}</ref> 800 (2018)<ref name="cfr.org"/>
| [[al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb|In Libya]]: 5,000<ref name="cfr.org">{{cite web|url=https://www.cfr.org/expert-brief/al-qaedas-resurrection|title=Al-Qaeda's Resurrection|author=Bruce Hoffman|publisher=Council on Foreign Relations|date=March 6, 2018}}</ref>
| [[al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb|In the Maghreb]]: 800–1,000+ (2015)<ref>{{cite web| title =Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM)| url =http://www.cfr.org/terrorist-organizations-and-networks/al-qaeda-islamic-maghreb-aqim/p12717| website =Council on Foreign Relations| date =March 27, 2015| accessdate =July 2, 2015| archive-date =May 11, 2015| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20150511122144/http://www.cfr.org/terrorist-organizations-and-networks/al-qaeda-islamic-maghreb-aqim/p12717| url-status =dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| title =Profile: Al-Qaeda in North Africa| url =https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-17308138| publisher =BBC| date = January 17, 2013|accessdate = July 2, 2015}}</ref>
| [[Al-Mourabitoun (jihadist group)|In West Africa]]: 100+ (2015)<ref>{{cite web| title =Mali: qui sont les nouveaux chefs des katibas jihadistes?| url =http://www.rfi.fr/afrique/20140514-mali-etat-jihadistes-apres-mort-emir-al-mourabitoune-aqmi-al-qaida-mujao-belmokhtar/| website =Radio France internationale| date = May 14, 2014| accessdate =August 19, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| title =Notorious Extremist Said to Head Al-Qaida West Africa Branch| url =http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/notorious-extremist-head-al-qaida-west-africa-branch-33108136| website =abc| date = August 15, 2015| accessdate =August 19, 2015}}</ref>
| [[al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula|In the Arabian Peninsula]]: 6,000–8,000 (2018)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://apnews.com/f38788a561d74ca78c77cb43612d50da/Yemen:-US-allies-don%27t-defeat-al-Qaida-but-pay-it-to-go-away|title=AP Investigation: US allies, al-Qaida battle rebels in Yemen|website=AP News|date=August 7, 2018}}</ref>
| [[Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin|In Mali]]: 800–5,400
| [[Imam Shamil Battalion|In Russia]]: 100<ref name="cfr.org"/>
| [[al-Shabaab (militant group)|In Somalia]]: 7,000–9,000<ref name="Jgagvfts">{{cite news|title=Jihadist groups across globe vying for terror spotlight|url=http://www.foxnews.com/world/2014/07/10/world-worst-jihadist-groups-across-globe-vie-for-terror-spotlight/|accessdate=January 7, 2015|publisher=Fox News Channel|date=July 10, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-15336689|title=Who are Somalia's al-Shabab?|work=BBC News |date=December 22, 2017}}</ref>
| [[Tahrir al-Sham|In Syria]]: [[Tahrir al-Sham]] 7,000–11,000 (2018)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/mideast/syria-s-civil-war-has-been-raging-7-years-what-n849851|title=Bombs are falling on a rebel enclave in Syria every minute|publisher=NBC News|date=February 21, 2018}}</ref><ref name="Reality Check team 2018">{{cite web | author=Reality Check team | title=Syria: Who's in control of Idlib? | website=BBC News | date=September 7, 2018 | url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-45401474 | access-date=October 22, 2018}}</ref> [[Guardians of Religion Organization|Hurras al-Din]] 2,000–3,000<ref>{{cite web|url=https://kyleorton1991.wordpress.com/2018/03/01/a-new-branch-of-al-qaeda-emerges-in-syria/|author=Kyle Orton|title=A New Branch of Al-Qaeda Emerges in Syria|date=March 1, 2018|publisher=Kyle Orton's Blog}}</ref>
| [[Al-Qaeda in Sinai Peninsula|In the Sinai Peninsula]]: 1,000<ref name="cfr.org"/>
| [[Ansaru|In Nigeria]]: 2,000–3,000<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lefigaro.fr/international/2013/11/18/01003-20131118ARTFIG00218-l-intervention-francaise-au-mali-a-deplace-la-menace-djihadiste-vers-le-sud.php|title="L'intervention française au Mali a déplacé la menace djihadiste vers le sud"|date=November 18, 2013}}</ref>
| Total: 31,400+ – 57,600+~
}}
|previous=
|allies =
'''State allies:'''
* {{flag|Saudi Arabia}} (alleged, denied)<ref name="WT">{{cite news|last1=Thomas|first1=Carls|title=The Saudis channel the mafia: Fears of Saudi retaliation deter truth about 9/11|url=http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2016/apr/18/cal-thomas-fears-of-saudi-retaliation-deter-truth-/|accessdate=April 28, 2016|work=The Washington Times}}</ref>
* {{flag|Qatar}} (alleged, denied)<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.haaretz.com/middle-east-news/1.795628|title=Fact Check: Is Qatar Supporting Terrorism? A Look at Its Ties to Iran, ISIS and the Muslim Brotherhood|last1=Haaretz|first2=The Associated|last2=Press|newspaper=הארץ |date=July 11, 2017|via=Haaretz}}</ref>
* {{flag|Iran}} (alleged, denied)<ref>[https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-iran-alqaeda/study-questions-iran-al-qaeda-ties-despite-u-s-allegations-idUSKCN1LN2LE Study questions Iran-al Qaeda ties, despite U.S. allegations - Reuters]</ref><ref>[https://www.treasury.gov/press-center/press-releases/pages/hp1360.aspx Treasury Targets Al Qaida Operatives in Iran]</ref>
'''Non-state allies:'''
* [[File:Flag of Taliban.svg|25px]] [[Taliban]]
* [[File:Flag of Tehrik-i-Taliban.svg|25px]] [[Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan]]
* [[File:AQMI Flag asymmetric.svg|25px]] [[Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan]]
* [[File:Flag of Turkistan Islamic Party.svg|25px]] [[Turkistan Islamic Party]]
* [[File:Flag of Lashkar-e-Taiba.svg|25px]] [[Lashkar-e-Taiba]]
* [[File:Flag of Caucasian Emirate.svg|25px]] [[Caucasus Emirate]]
* [[File:Flag of al-Qaeda.svg|25px]] [[Haqqani network]]
* [[File:Flag of Jihad.svg|25px]] [[Egyptian Islamic Jihad]]
* [[Jaish-e-Mohammed]]
* [[Jemaah Islamiyah]]
|opponents=
'''State opponents'''
* {{flagicon|NATO}} [[NATO]]
** {{flagicon image|Seal of the International Security Assistance Force.svg}} [[International Security Assistance Force|ISAF]]
* {{flag|United States}}
* {{flag|United Kingdom}}
* {{flag|France}}
* {{flag|Russia}}
* {{flag|Soviet Union}} (1988–1991)
* {{flag|China}}<ref name="uyg1">[http://chinaperspectives.revues.org/648#tocto1n10 "The Chinese regime and the Uyghur dilemma"] Summary of {{cite journal|url=http://chinaperspectives.revues.org/648|title=The Uyghurs in Xinjiang – The Malaise Grows|last=Castets|first=Rémi|year=2003 |journal=China Perspectives|volume=2003 |issue=5 |doi=10.4000/chinaperspectives.648 |accessdate=June 10, 2012}}</ref>
'''Non-State opponents'''
* [[File:AQMI Flag asymmetric.svg|25px]] [[Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant]]
* {{flagicon image|InfoboxHez.PNG}} [[Hezbollah]]
* {{flagicon image|Flag of Hamas.svg}} [[Hamas]]
* {{flagicon image|Ansarullah Flag Vector.svg}} [[Houthis]]
* {{flagicon image|Flag of South Yemen.svg}} [[Southern Movement]]
|battles=
[[War on Terror]] 
In Afghanistan
* [[Afghan Civil War (1996–2001)]]
* [[War in Afghanistan (2001–present)]]
In Tajikistan
* [[Civil war in Tajikistan]]
In Chechnya
* [[Second Chechen War]]
In Yemen
* [[al-Qaeda insurgency in Yemen]]
* [[Yemeni Civil War (2015–present)]]
In the Maghreb
* [[Insurgency in the Maghreb (2002–present)|Maghreb insurgency]]
* [[Northern Mali conflict]]
In Iraq
* [[Iraq War]]
* [[Iraqi insurgency (2011–present)|Iraqi insurgency]]
In Pakistan
* [[War in North-West Pakistan]]
* [[Balochistan conflict]]
In Somalia
* [[Somali Civil War (2006–2009)]]
* [[Somali Civil War (2009–present)]]
In Syria
* [[Syrian Civil War]]
* [[Military intervention against ISIL]]
* [[American-led intervention in Syria]]
In Egypt
* [[Sinai insurgency]]
* [[Egyptian Crisis (2011–14)|Egyptian Crisis (2011–2014))]]
|designated_as_terror_group_by={{CAN}} {{CHN}} {{FRA}} {{IRN}} {{JPN}} {{GBR}} {{RUS}} {{USA}} {{ARE}}
}}

[[File:Flag of al-Qaeda in Iraq.svg|thumb|A [[jihad]]ist flag of uncertain origin]]
[[File:September 11 Photo Montage.jpg|thumb|The [[September 11 attacks]], was the deadlist al-Qaeda attack.]]
'''al-Qaeda'''<ref>{{pron-en|ælˈkaɪdə}} {{respell|al|KYE|də}} or {{IPA-en|ælˈkeɪdə|}} {{respell|al|KAY|də}}; alternatively spelled '''al-Qaida''' and sometimes '''al-Qa'ida'''</ref> ({{lang-ar|القاعدة}}, ''al-qāʿidah'', "the base"), is an [[Weapons|armed]] [[Islamic]] group that was started between August 1988 and late 1989.<ref name="bergen">{{cite book| last = Bergen| first = Peter L.| title = The Osama Bin Laden I Know: An Oral History of Al Qaeda's Leader| url = https://archive.org/details/osamabinladenikn0000berg_n8c8| year = 2006| publisher = Simon and Schuster| isbn = 0-7432-7892-5 }}</ref>p75<ref name="al-Fadl">{{cite web |url=http://cns.miis.edu/pubs/reports/binladen.htm |title=Testimony of Jamal Ahmad Al-Fadl |date=February 6, 2001 |publisher=James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies |author=United States District Court, Southern District of New York |work=United States v. Usama bin Laden |accessdate=2008-09-03 |archive-date=2001-12-14 |archive-url=http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20011214040200/http%3A//cns.miis.edu/pubs/reports/binladen.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref> It works as a network, as a stateless army,<ref>{{harvnb|Gunaratna|2002|pp=95–96}}. "al-Qaeda's global network, as we know it today, was created while it was based in Khartoum, from December 1991 till May 1996. To coordinate its overt and covert operations as al-Qaeda's ambitions and resources increased, it developed a decentralised, regional structure. [...] As a global multinational, al-Qaeda makes its constituent nationalities and ethnic groups, of which there are several dozen, responsible for a particular geographic region. Though its ''modus operandi'' is cellular, familial relationships play a key role." See also:
* {{cite journal|last=Naím|first=Moisés|title=The five wars of globalization|journal=Foreign Policy|issue=134|pages=28–37|date=January 2003|doi=10.2307/3183519|jstor=3183519}}</ref> and a radical [[Sunni]] [[Muslim]] movement calling for global [[Jihad]]. Most of the world thinks it is a [[Takfiri]] and a [[terrorist]] organization.<ref>{{cite book| last = Ross| first = Jeffrey Ian| title = The Dynamics of Political Crime| url = https://archive.org/details/dynamicsofpoliti0000ross| year = 2003| publisher = SAGE| isbn = 978-0-8039-7045-8 }}</ref><ref>2010 Amil Khan, The Long Struggle, p 88</ref>

Members of al-Qaeda have performed many acts of [[terrorism]]. Most of these have been done against the [[United States]] and Shias. Some of its most well-known attacks have been the [[September 11 attacks]], the bombings of U.S. [[Embassy|embassies]] in [[Kenya]] and [[Tanzania]] in 1998, and the attack on the U.S. Navy ship [[USS Cole]] in 2000. al-Qaeda has done suicide attacks and [[wikt:simultaneous|simultaneous]] (at the same time) [[bomb]]ings of different targets.<ref>{{cite book| last = Wright| first = Lawrence| title = The Looming Tower: Al-Qaeda and the Road to 9/11| url = https://archive.org/details/loomingtoweralqa00wrig| year = 2006| publisher = Alfred a Knopf Incorporated| isbn = 0-375-41486-X }}</ref>

Among al-Qaeda's goals is for other countries to stop influencing [[Muslim world|Muslim countries]] and for a new Islamic [[caliphate]] to be made. There have been reports that al-Qaeda believes that [[Christian]] and [[Jewish]] Islamophobia is trying to destroy Islam<ref>Fu'ad Husayn 'al-Zarqawi ... "The Second Generation of al-Qa’ida, Part Fourteen," ''al-Quds al-Arabi'', July 13, 2005</ref> and that the killing of bystanders and civilians is religiously justified in jihad.

There have been guesses that there are 500–1,000 operatives in Afghanistan and around 5,000 worldwide. However, there is no confirmation of this.

==History==
In June 2001, al-Qaeda and [[Egyptian Islamic Jihad]], which had been associated with each other for many years, merged into 'Qaeda al-Jihad'.<ref name="Wright">Lawrence Wright 2002. ''The New Yorker''. [http://www.lawrencewright.com/art-zawahiri.html The man behind Bin Laden] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110224023636/http://www.lawrencewright.com/art-zawahiri.html |date=2011-02-24 }}</ref>

:"...the members of Islamic Jihad and its guiding figure [[Ayman al-Zawahiri]] have provided the backbone of [al-Quaeda's] leadership. According to officials in the C.I.A. and the F.B.I., Zawahiri has been responsible for much of the planning of the terrorist operations against the United States".<ref name=Wright/>

===Death of Osama Bin Laden Laden and current leadership===
Egyptian [[Ayman al-Zawahiri]] is the highest-ranking surviving member of al-Qaeda's leadership after [[Osama bin Laden]] was killed on May 2, 2011.

===Death of Abu Yahya al-Libi===
Senior al-Qaeda leader [[Abu Yahya al-Libi]] was killed in a [[Unmanned aerial vehicle|drone]] strike on June 4, 2012.<ref name="Libi">Al-Qaeda commander Abu Yahya al-Libi killed - US officials. ''BBC News Asia'' [https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-18334377 Al-Qaeda commander Abu Yahya al-Libi killed - US officials - BBC News]</ref> He ranked second to Ayman al-Zawahiri at the time. The strike was carried out in the northwest tribal area of [[Waziristan]]. The [[Pakistan]] Government has protested to the U.S. about the strike.<ref name=Libi/>

==References==
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

==External links==
* Council on Foreign Relations [http://www.cfr.org/publication/9126/ al-Qaeda] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100126085357/http://www.cfr.org/publication/9126/ |date=2010-01-26 }}
* {{Cite book |last1=Gunaratna |first1=Rohan |title=Inside Al Qaeda |publisher=C. Hurst & Co. |year=2002 |isbn=1-85065-671-1 |edition=1st |location=London |author-link=Rohan Gunaratna}}

[[Category:1980s establishments]]
[[Category:Al-Qaeda| ]]
[[Category:Rebel militia groups]]
[[Category:Shiaphobia]]
[[Category:Sunni organizations]]

Al-Qaeda - Revision history

WikiDwarfBOT at 09:41, 4 October 2022