OVERVIEW

Al-Qa‘ida flag

Al-Qa‘ida is a Salafi-jihadist group that has evolved from its 9/11 base in Afghanistan and Pakistan into a dispersed network of global affiliates and supporters. Although al-Qa‘ida’s central leadership cadre has been weakened and most of its original leaders removed, the group still probably seeks to attack the United States and US interests abroad, even as counterterrorism pressure, international cooperation, and enhanced security measures have decreased its ability to do so.

Al-Qa‘ida’s five affiliates—al-Qa‘ida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP); al-Qa‘ida in the Lands of the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) and its Sahel branch, Jama‘at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM); al-Shabaab; al-Qa‘ida in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS); and Hurras al-Din (HaD)—operate across the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia. Al-Qa‘ida in Iraq changed its name to ISIS in 2013 and al-Qa‘ida severed ties with the affiliate in 2014. The Syria-based Nusrah Front broke from al-Qa‘ida and merged with other opposition groups to form Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham in 2017.These groups and their attacks are detailed in separate entries on this website.

OPERATING AREA
Al-Qa‘ida’s operational activity is generated primarily by the group’s affiliates. AQAP is based in Yemen; AQIM is based in Algeria, Libya and Mali; JNIM is based in Mali; al-Shabaab is based in Somalia; AQIS is based in the Afghanistan-Pakistan region; and HaD is based in Syria. Some senior leaders and lower-level members reside in Iran, and the group has a residual presence in Afghanistan.

TACTICS AND TARGETS
Al-Qa‘ida exploits undergoverned areas, regional conflicts, and local grievances to recruit new members and derive resources. Al-Qa‘ida affiliates remain committed to attacking the United States and US interests abroad but have varying degrees of capability and access to these targets. These affiliates use a variety of tactics, including conventional assaults, improvised explosive devices, suicide operations, and kidnappings. Al-Qa‘ida also encourages its adherents worldwide to conduct operations in their own countries using readily available weapons.

FOREIGN TERRORIST GROUP DESIGNATION
The US State Department designated al-Qa‘ida as a foreign terrorist organization in October 1999. Several al-Qa‘ida leaders have been named Specially Designated Global Terrorists, including former amir Ayman al-Zawahiri and Iran-based leader Sayf al-Adl in September 2001 and Iran-based leader ‘Abd al-Rahman al-Maghrebi in January 2021.

KEY LEADERS

NOTABLE ATTACKS