Ayman al Zawahiri Archives (original) (raw)
Senior Pakistani Taliban leader reportedly killed in Afghanistan
| August 9, 2022
Jamaat-ul-Ahrar and Movement of the Taliban in Pakistan leader Omar Khalid Khurasani, who is believed to have given sanctuary to Ayman al Zawahiri in the past, has called for global jihad, attacks on the US, and the establishment of the caliphate, and celebrated the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks on the U.S. He is reported to have been killed in a district in Afghansitan that has hosted an Al Qaeda training camp in the past.
Generation Jihad Ep. 75 — Zawahiri is dead. Al Qaeda is not.
Bill Roggio | August 4, 2022
Edmund Fitton-Brown — outgoing coordinator of the UN Security Council Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring team and longtime friend of the show — joins Bill to discuss the killing of Al Qaeda emir Ayman Zawahiri, who died in a U.S. drone strike last Sunday.
U.S. kills Al Qaeda emir Ayman al Zawahiri in drone strike
Bill Roggio | August 1, 2022
Zawahiri’s death is being hailed as a counterterrorism success, but that masks the fact Afghanistan has become a safe haven for top Al Qaeda leaders.
Generation Jihad Ep. 74 — Zawahiri in Afghanistan
Bill Roggio | August 1, 2022
In this episode, Bill flies solo and expands upon his recent article in FDD’s Long War Journal, “Ayman al Zawahiri is alive; Taliban and Al Qaeda ‘remain close,’ UN reports,” noting that reports today (August 1, 2022) of Zawahiri’s death inside of Afghanistan underscore the country’s role as a safe-haven for Al Qaeda.
Generation Jihad Ep. 71 — Al Qaeda under Zawahiri
Bill Roggio and Caleb Weiss | May 24, 2022
Al Qaeda’s central leadership remains organized with its branches actively carrying out orders passed down from Ayman al Zawahiri who sits at the helm and remains an influential figure in Jihad. Host Bill Roggio is joined by Long War Journal contributor Caleb Weiss to discuss the state of Al Qaeda under Zawahiri’s leadership.
Al Qaeda leader threatens Myanmar in new video
Thomas Joscelyn | March 12, 2021
Al Qaeda leader Ayman al Zawahiri threatens Myanmar in a newly released video, which attempts to connect the plight of Muslims there to the jihadists’ global struggle.
Analysis: U.S. confirms senior al Qaeda leader killed in Afghan raid
Thomas Joscelyn | October 25, 2020
The U.S. has confirmed that Husam Abd-al-Ra’uf, a senior al Qaeda leader, was killed in Ghazni province earlier this month. The head of the National Counterterrorism Center touts his death as a “major setback” for al Qaeda and one of its “strategic losses,” but that is doubtful.
Generation Jihad Ep. 26 – Zawahiri’s Bizarre 9/11 Anniversary Message
Thomas Joscelyn & Bill Roggio | September 15, 2020
Hosts Tom Joscelyn and Bill Roggio discuss al Qaeda’s weak media output on the 19th anniversary of the 9/11 hijackings.
Zawahiri asserts al Qaeda’s independence in new message
Thomas Joscelyn | September 11, 2020
Al Qaeda has released a video message featuring Ayman al Zawahiri, who criticizes Al Jazeera at length. Although the video was released on the anniversary of the 9/11 hijackings, it was likely timed to coincide with the normalization of relations between Israel and the Kingdom of Bahrain.
Generation Jihad Ep. 19 – Al Qaeda in 2020
Thomas Joscelyn & Bill Roggio | July 21, 2020
Hosts Bill Roggio and Tom Joscelyn discuss what al Qaeda looks like in 2020.
Analysis: AQAP’s new emir reaffirms allegiance to Zawahiri, praises Taliban
Thomas Joscelyn | March 23, 2020
Last week, AQAP released an audio message form its new emir, Khalid Batarfi. In it, Batarfi renews his allegiance to Ayman al-Zawahiri on behalf of AQAP. He also praises the Taliban and Shabaab.
Deadly raid in Kenya carried out under ‘direction’ of al-Qaeda leadership, Shabaab says
Thomas Joscelyn | January 9, 2020
Ali Mohamud Rage, a senior Shabaab official, has released a video concerning the group’s assault on the Manda Bay Airfield earlier this week. Three Americans were killed during the attack, which Rage says was “carried out under the guidance and direction” of Ayman al-Zawahiri.
U.S. unseals indictment against American serving as top Shabaab figure
Thomas Joscelyn | December 3, 2019
The Department of Justice has unsealed an updated indictment against Jehad Serwan Mostafa, an American who has long served as a senior figure in Shabaab. The FBI alleges that Mostafa has played a role in Shabaab’s explosives department, among other jobs. In 2011, he served as an emissary for Ayman al-Zawahiri.
Afghan officials identify AQIS members killed in controversial Musa Qala raid
Thomas Joscelyn | September 24, 2019
Afghan officials have identified several AQIS members who were killed during a controversial raid in Musa Qala, Helmand earlier this week. They have also posted images purportedly documenting the weaponry, explosives and cash seized at the jihadists’ compound.
Ayman al-Zawahiri defends 9/11 hijackings in anniversary address
Thomas Joscelyn | September 11, 2019
On the 18th anniversary of the 9/11 hijackings, Ayman al-Zawahiri defends the attack. He claims in a new video that all of the Islamic scholars’ arguments against the hijackings have been “refuted.” The video also features various al-Qaeda leaders from around the globe.
Al Qaeda leader threatens India, criticizes Pakistan in message on Kashmir
Thomas Joscelyn | July 9, 2019
Ayman al-Zawahiri has released a new message entitled, “Don’t Forget Kashmir.” He criticizes the Pakistani Army and intelligence services at length, saying they can’t be trusted to support the jihad against Indian forces. He also calls upon Muslim scholars to explain that it is “individual duty” to support the Taliban’s Islamic Emirate.
Al Qaeda growing stronger under Taliban’s umbrella, UN finds
Thomas Joscelyn | June 23, 2019
According to a recently released report by a UN Security Council monitoring team, the Taliban is the “primary partner for all foreign terrorist groups operating in Afghanistan,” including al Qaeda. The only exception is the Islamic State, which opposes the Taliban.
Turkistan Islamic Party head decries Chinese occupation
Thomas Joscelyn and Caleb Weiss | March 18, 2019
The head of the Turkistan Islamic Party (TIP), Abdul Haq al-Turkistani, has called on jihadist “scholars” to do more to address the plight of Uighurs. Al-Turkistani addresses his message to Taliban leader Haibatullah Akhunzada, Ayman al-Zawahiri, and a number of al Qaeda ideologues.
UN: Al Qaeda continues to view Afghanistan as a ‘safe haven’
Thomas Joscelyn & Bill Roggio | March 5, 2019
According to the UN’s Jan. 2019 assessment, al Qaeda’s relationship with the Taliban is “long-standing” and “strong.” And al Qaeda “continues to see Afghanistan as a safe haven for its leadership.” The UN estimates that the Islamic State has several thousand fighters in Afghanistan as well.
Zawahiri criticizes jihadists in Syria for clinging to territory under Turkey’s protection
Thomas Joscelyn | February 7, 2019
In a message released on Feb. 5, al Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri harshly criticizes the jihadists in Syria. He says they are engaged in a misguided “competition” for “imagined authority” over territory that is under the oversight “of secular Turkish checkpoints.”
Attack on UN base in Mali carried out according to Zawahiri’s guidelines, JNIM says
Thomas Joscelyn and Caleb Weiss | January 20, 2019
Al Qaeda’s branch in Mali attacked a UN base earlier today, killing at least ten peacekeepers from Chad. The group says that the assault was part of Ayman al-Zawahiri’s global campaign, which rejects the “normalization” of Israel. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also visited Chad today.
Al Qaeda leader: America is the main enemy in a ‘single war with different fronts’
Thomas Joscelyn | September 11, 2018
Al Qaeda released a message from its leader, Ayman al Zawahiri, to commemorate the 17th anniversary of the 9/11 hijackings. Zawahiri argues that the jihadists must view various conflicts raging around the globe as a “single war with different fronts against a united enemy.”
Analysis: Losing a War
Thomas Joscelyn | August 29, 2018
The Trump administration is desperately trying to negotiate with the Taliban’s senior leadership. The Obama administration did as well, with the effort ending in a diplomatic fiasco.
Al Qaeda leader argues Taliban’s ‘blessed emirate’ a core part of new caliphate
Thomas Joscelyn | August 24, 2018
Al Qaeda has released a new message from its emir, Ayman al Zawahiri, who argues that the Taliban’s Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan is a core part of a new, imagined caliphate.
State Department amends terror designation for Al Nusrah Front
Thomas Joscelyn | May 31, 2018
The State Department has amended the terrorist designation for Al Nusrah Front to include the “alias” Hay’at Tahrir al Sham (HTS). State’s announcement indicates that the US government still considers HTS to be part of al Qaeda’s network, despite the jihadists’ vitriolic disputes over its formation. State didn’t explain its reasoning behind the move.
As US relocates embassy to Jerusalem, al Qaeda leader condemns international system
Thomas Joscelyn | May 14, 2018
Al Qaeda has released a message from its leader, Ayman al Zawahiri, that is timed to coincide with the Trump administration’s relocation of the American embassy in Israel to Jerusalem. Zawahiri notes that the decision caused a “big uproar,” but he reminds listeners that Tel Aviv is also supposedly Muslim land. He calls for jihad to uproot the entire international system led by the US and the UN.
Al Qaeda chief says America is the ‘first enemy’ of Muslims
Thomas Joscelyn | March 21, 2018
As Sahab has released two new messages from al Qaeda leader Ayman al Zawahiri in recent days. In the first, he again criticizes Abu Bakr al Baghdadi’s Islamic State, accusing it of sowing dissent in the jihadists’ ranks. In the second, Zawahiri reminds jihadists and Muslims that his organization considers the US to be their “first enemy.”
Zawahiri incites followers in the Maghreb
Thomas Joscelyn | March 6, 2018
Al Qaeda released a new message from Ayman al Zawahiri today. His talk is titled, “France Has Returned Oh Descendants of the Lions.” Zawahiri calls on Muslims in the Maghreb to oppose foreign forces.
Jihadists form ‘Guardians of the Religion’ organization in Syria
Thomas Joscelyn | March 4, 2018
Three jihadist factions in Syria announced today that they have joined the “Guardians of the Religion” organization. Al Qaeda-affiliated social media channels have promoted the new group, which was formed as a result of jihadist infighting and leadership disputes in Syria.
Al Qaeda head blames Islamists for failure of Arab uprisings
Thomas Joscelyn | January 26, 2018
In a newly-released audio message, Ayman al Zawahiri blames Islamist parties in Tunisia and Egypt for the failure of the Arab uprisings to deliver sharia-based governance.