Al-Qaeda is a transnational Sunni Islamist militant organization founded in 1988 by Osama bin Laden and associates during the Soviet–Afghan War. It seeks to establish a global caliphate governed by Sharia law and is responsible for numerous terrorist attacks worldwide, most notably the September 11 attacks in the United States. Designated a foreign terrorist organization by many governments, al-Qaeda remains influential through a network of regional affiliates.
Al-Qaeda emerged from the network of Arab fighters who joined the Afghan resistance to the Soviet invasion (1979–1989). Bin Laden’s vision, shaped by scholar Abdullah Azzam, was to continue global jihad beyond Afghanistan. The group’s doctrine calls for uniting Muslims under one caliphate, expelling Western influence from Muslim lands, and using violence to defend Islam.
Initially centralized under bin Laden, al-Qaeda evolved into a decentralized network of semi-autonomous affiliates linked by ideology and allegiance. After bin Laden’s death in 2011, Ayman al-Zawahiri assumed leadership until his killing in a 2022 U.S. drone strike. U.N. reports identify Sayf al-Adl, based in Iran, as the group’s current de facto leader.
Al-Qaeda orchestrated the 1998 U.S. embassy bombings in Kenya and Tanzania, the 2000 USS Cole attack, and the 9/11 hijackings. Its affiliates include Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP, Yemen), Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM, North and West Africa), Al-Shabaab (Somalia), and Al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS). These branches operate independently but coordinate on strategy and propaganda.
As of 2024, al-Qaeda’s core is weakened but persists through its affiliates in Africa, the Middle East, and South Asia. The Taliban’s 2021 return to power in Afghanistan renewed concerns that al-Qaeda may rebuild safe havens there, although it currently maintains a low operational profile. U.S. and allied counterterrorism efforts continue to target its leadership and financing networks.