Al-Qaeda
Al-Qaeda (Arabic for “the Base”) is a militant Islamist organization founded by Osama bin Laden in 1988. It has been designated as a terrorist group by the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), the United States, and various other countries.
The organization started as support for Muslims in combat with the Soviet Union. But when the Soviets withdrew from Afghanistan in 1989, the group dissolved but still continued to oppose their leaders. One of their principal goals of action was to move the United States forces out of Saudi Arabia and Somalia by way of violence. The organization operated with help from the Egyptian Islamic Jihad, the Islamic Group, and many other jihad groups located in adjacent countries. Al-Qaeda initiated camps for tens of thousands of Muslim militants who came from numerous countries and were trained in paramilitary skills.
Throughout the time period of 1991-1998, Bin Laden relocated the Al-Qaeda base of operations to Sudan. On February 26, 1993, a truck bomb was detonated beneath the north tower of the World Trade Center in New York City. The 1,336-pound explosive was exploded with the intention of knocking the north tower into the south, causing them both to fall to the ground. It failed in disturbing the north tower but injured 1,000 and killed 6. Eyad Ismoil and Ramzi Ahmed Yousef were found responsible for the attack and had been trained at Al-Qaeda bases in Sudan. The aftermath of the attack led to the relocation of the main al-Qaeda bases in Sudan to Afghanistan.
In 1991, up to 18 Al-Qaeda militants planned and staged the September 11th attacks on the World Trade Center against the United States. A videotape was found where Osama Bin Laden described his involvement in the attack. "Your security is not in the hands of Kerry, Bush or Al Qaeda. Your security is in your own hands, any state that does not mess with our security, has naturally guaranteed its own security." |
Osama bin Laden (1987 – May 2011)
Commander, and Senior Operations Chief of al-Qaeda prior to assassination. 1993 World Trade Center bombing aftermath.
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Within weeks the United States responded to the attacks that killed thousands by attacking Taliban and al-Qaeda forces in Afghanistan. Thousands of militants were killed and comprised most of the group's communication systems. However, groups rose from all around the country taking on the Al-Qaeda name, creating a strengthened but autonomous militia.
In the six years following the September 11th attacks, Al-Qaeda carried out numerous attacks including in Jordan, Kenya, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Turkey, the United Kingdom, Israel, Algeria, and others. However, on May 2nd, 2011, Osama bin Laden was killed by United States forces after being located in a secure compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan.
In the six years following the September 11th attacks, Al-Qaeda carried out numerous attacks including in Jordan, Kenya, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Turkey, the United Kingdom, Israel, Algeria, and others. However, on May 2nd, 2011, Osama bin Laden was killed by United States forces after being located in a secure compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan.
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ATTACK MAP
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SOURCES
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- “Full Transcript of Bin Ladin's Speech.” Al Jazeera English - Archive - Full Transcript Of Bin Ladin's Speech, web.archive.org/web/20070613014620/http://english.aljazeera.net/English/archive/archive?ArchiveId=7403.
- The Editors of Encyclopædia Britannica. “Al-Qaeda.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 3 Dec. 2017, www.britannica.com/topic/al-Qaeda.
- “Background: Al-Qaeda.” PBS, Public Broadcasting Service, www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/network/alqaeda/indictment.html.