Al-Qaeda

An international militant Islamist organization founded in 1988 by Osama bin Laden. It was initially established to support the mujahideen in Afghanistan during the Soviet invasion, but later evolved into a global terrorist network that promotes jihad against entities it regards as enemies of Islam. The organization seeks to establish an Islamic caliphate and identifies Western countries, their allies, and secular governments in Muslim-majority states as its principal adversaries. It portrays its struggle as a defense of Muslim lands and aims to unite the Muslim world under Islamic law, or Sharia. Its rhetoric frequently emphasizes a confrontation between Islam and Western powers, which it has described as “Jews and Crusaders.” Al-Qaeda views Israel as a symbol of Western dominance in the Middle East and as a central adversary within its ideological framework. The organization frequently invokes the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to mobilize support and promote its broader vision of global jihad. Leaders such as Osama bin Laden and Ayman al-Zawahiri issued statements calling for attacks on Israeli and Jewish targets worldwide. Despite Israel’s prominence in its propaganda, al-Qaeda has not carried out major direct attacks on Israeli territory. Instead, its messaging has encouraged supporters around the world to target Jewish and Israeli interests, while linking the Palestinian issue to a broader anti-Western narrative. This approach has strengthened the organization’s ideological appeal and supported its recruitment efforts. Al-Qaeda’s global influence and the major terrorist attacks it carried out, including the attacks of September 11, 2001, had far-reaching consequences and prompted extensive international counterterrorism efforts. Although the organization has weakened in recent years, it remains influential, particularly through its regional affiliates and propaganda, which continue to inspire jihadist movements around the world.