U.S. Drone Strike Kills Ayman al-Zawahri, Top Qaeda Leader

THE NEW YORK TIMES: WASHINGTON — An American drone strike killed Ayman al-Zawahri, a key plotter of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks who took over as the leader of Al Qaeda after Osama bin Laden’s death, at an urban safe house in Afghanistan, President Biden announced on Monday night.

The early-morning strike in the heart of downtown Kabul over the weekend capped a 21-year manhunt for an Egyptian radical who more than anyone besides Bin Laden was deemed responsible for the deadliest foreign attack on the United States in modern times and never gave up targeting Americans.

“Now justice has been delivered and this terrorist leader is no more,” Mr. Biden said in a seven-minute nationally televised address from the White House. “We make it clear again tonight,” he added, “that no matter how long it takes, no matter where you hide, if you are a threat to our people, the United States will find you and take you out.”

American intelligence agencies tracked down al-Zawahri in Kabul earlier this year and then spent months determining that it really was him hiding out in a house in a crowded section of the Afghan capital. After receiving authorization from Mr. Biden a week ago, the C.I.A. fired two Hellfire missiles and killed al-Zawahri on a balcony of the house without killing anyone else, including members of his family or any nearby civilians, American officials said. » | Peter Baker, Helene Cooper, Julian E. Barnes and Eric Schmitt | Monday, August 1, 2022

Ayman Al-Zawahiri, une vie entière dévouée au djihad : Le chef d’Al-Qaida, tué dans une frappe de drone américain, annoncée, lundi, par Joe Biden, était sorti de l’ombre après les attentats du 11-Septembre. Des Frères musulmans à « la base », son parcours épouse toutes les mutations du djihadisme contemporain. »

Al-Qaida-Chef al-Zawahiri in Afghanistan getötet: Mehr als zwei Jahrzehnte nach den Terroranschlägen vom 11. September töten die USA Bin Ladens Nachfolger mit einem Drohnenangriff in Kabul. Präsident Bidens Afghanistan-Strategie kommt das gelegen. »

Al-Qaeda Leader Threatens Saudi Arabia Over Mass Execution

The leader of al-Qaeda has called for attacks on Saudi Arabia

THE INDEPENDENT: The leader of al-Qaeda called the kingdom’s ruling Al Saud family a 'rotten regime'

The leader of al-Qaeda has called for attacks on Saudi Arabia, following the mass execution of 47 people in the Kingdom – many of whom were tied to the extremist group.

Al-Zawahiri, the group's leader, announced the threats in a seven-minute audio recording earlier this week, which was reported by a US terror monitor, the SITE Intelligence Group said on Thursday.

In the recording the Egyptian militant leader urged his followers to launch new attacks against the kingdom’s ruling Al Saud family, which he called a “rotten regime that corrupted your religion”. » | Alexandra Sims | Thursday, January 14, 2016

US Analyzing New Tape from Al Qaeda Leader Zawahiri

Nov. 02, 2015 - 2:01 - References made to current events

Al Qaeda Chief Urges Westerner Kidnappings

Ayman al-Zawahiri

REUTERS.COM: (Reuters) - Al Qaeda chief Ayman al-Zawahiri has called on Muslims to kidnap Westerners, particularly Americans, who could then be exchanged for jailed jihadists including a blind Egyptian cleric convicted in 1995 of conspiring to attack the United Nations and other New York landmarks.

In a wide[-]ranging audio interview, the al Qaeda leader expressed solidarity with the Muslim Brotherhood which is facing a violent crackdown by the army-backed government in Egypt and urged unity among rebels in their fight against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

Reuters could not verify the authenticity of the Zawahiri tape, but the voice resembled that of the al Qaeda leader.

"I ask Allah the Glorious to help us set free Dr. Omar Abdel-Rahman and the rest of the captive Muslims, and I ask Allah to help us capture from among the Americans and the Westerners to enable us to exchange them for our captives," said Zawahiri, according to the SITE website monitoring service. Read on and comment » | Reporting by Rania El Gamal; Editing by Mark Potter | Dubai | Saturday, April 26, 2014

The New Jihadists Make Al-Qaeda Look Like Tired Old Has-beens

Al-Qaeda's Ayman al-Zawahiri, above, is seen as the godfather
of Islamist terrorism – but an increasingly isolated one

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: The creation of a de facto Islamic state in Syria could act as a springboard for a takeover of the Arab world

There is something rather laughable about the fugitive leader of al-Qaeda railing – as he has been recently – against the violent tactics employed by a new generation of Islamist militants.

This, after all, is an organisation that is no stranger to committing wanton acts of unprovoked violence, such as last year’s assault on Nairobi’s Westgate shopping mall. Judging from reports this week, it may also have radicalised the first British man to carry out a suicide bombing in the Syrian civil war.

But what really seems to be bugging Ayman al-Zawahiri, al-Qaeda’s ideological linchpin, is not so much the violent methods being employed by militants fighting in Syria and Iraq, but the fact that they are no longer prepared to take orders from him. He is the godfather of Islamist terrorism – but an increasingly isolated one.

This is certainly the view of American intelligence officials, who closely monitor every aspect of Islamist activity around the world.

“What we are looking at is the replacement of al-Qaeda by a new generation of Islamist militants who have a far more radical and focused agenda,” a senior US counter-terrorism official told me in an interview in Washington. “The new generation of these terrorists are far more ambitious. They are not just content with plotting terror attacks against the West: they are determined to create their own Islamist state.” » | Con Coughlin | Thursday, February 13, 2014

Al-Qaeda Chief Calls for Attacks on US in 9/11 Speech to Followers

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Ayman al-Zawahiri, the Al-Qaeda leader, has called on followers to commit attacks inside the US to "bleed America economically", in a speech marking the anniversary of the 9/11 strikes.

In an audio message released yesterday, Zawahiri laid out a plan of attack, saying he wanted a "few of the brothers" to commit small-scale strikes to trigger big spending by Washington on security, while awaiting the opportunity for a major onsalught later.

"We should bleed America economically by provoking it to continue in its massive expenditure on its security, for the weak point of America is its economy, which has already begun to stagger due to the military and security expenditure," he said.

Keeping America in such a state of tension and anticipation only required a few disparate attacks "here and there", he said. » | Josie Ensor | Friday, September 13, 2013

Al-Zawahiri Urges Muslims To Capture Westerners, Calls Obama 'Professional Liar'
INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS TIMES: Al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri has called on the Muslims to kidnap westerners as a means to free the imprisoned jihadists and to restart the Egyptian revolution, the SITE Intelligence Group has reported.

"We are seeking, by the help of Allah, to capture others and to incite Muslims to capture the citizens of the countries that are fighting Muslims in order to release our captives," said al-Zawahiri, referring to the kidnapping of Warren Weinstein, a 71-year-old American aid worker in Pakistan, last year, Reuters reported.

Al-Zawahiri, a physician by training, urged the Egyptians to press for the law of Islam in the country and fight till the Shariah law was implemented.

"The battle isn't over, but it has started… The revolution in Egypt must continue and the Muslim Ummah must offer sacrifices until it achieves what it wants and until it snatches from the corrupt forces ... the dignity and honor of Egypt," al-Zawahiri said, according to an AFP report.

In the first part of the eleventh episode of his series, "A Message of Hope and Glad Tidings to Our People in Egypt," he lashed out at the U.S. for supporting Israel and called President Barack Obama a “professional liar.” » | Sreeja VN | Saturday, October 27 2012

Al-Qaida Leader Calls for Holy War on US and Israel over Anti-Islamic Film

THE GUARDIAN: Ayman al-Zawahiri praises those who took part in deadly violence triggered by the film The Innocence of Muslims

The leader of al-Qaida has called for holy war against the United States and Israel over an anti-Islamic video which triggered mayhem in the Muslim world.

Ayman al-Zawahiri praised as demonstrators who breached the US embassy in Cairo and the attackers who stormed the US consulate in Benghazi last month in violence linked to the film as "honest and zealous".

The Benghazi attack on 11 September, in which the US ambassador to Libya, Chris Stevens, and three others were killed, is now believed to have been carried out by al-Qaida-linked militants.

The trailer for the film produced by Nakoula Basseley Nakoula, a California-based Egyptian-American angry at the treatment of Christians in his homeland, triggered mayhem across the Muslim world after it was uploaded to YouTube, with at least 17 people killed in violent protests.

In an audio message released by al-Qaida's media arm As-Sahab and posted on militant websites on Saturday, al-Zawahiri claimed Washington had allowed the film's production under the pretext of freedom of expression, "but this freedom did not prevent them from torturing Muslim prisoners". » | Staff and agencies | Saturday, October 13, 2012

Al-Qaeda Leader Ayam al-Zawahri Calls on Saudi Arabia to Rise Up

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Al-Qaeda chief Ayman al-Zawahiri has urged Saudis to follow the example of the Arab Spring and rise up against their rulers.

Al-Qaeda chief Ayman al-Zawahiri has urged Saudis to follow the example of the Arab Spring and rise up against their rulers.

"Why don't you rise while you are the sons of the proud and strong tribes that look down upon death in order to lift the humiliation and the oppression?" Zawahiri asked in a video translated by the US-based SITE Intelligence Group.

"Why don't you follow the example for your brothers in Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, Yemen and the Levant?"

He was referring to the Arab Spring wave of popular uprisings that has roiled North Africa and the Middle East since December 2010.

The six-minute video was produced in February or March and appeared Thursday on extremist websites, according to SITE. » | Friday, May 18, 2012

Al Qaeda Releases New Video of Elderly American Hostage

Read the article here | Brian Ross and Rhonda Schwartz | Monday, May 07, 2012

Al-Qa'ida Urges Jihad on Bashar al-Assad's Syrian Regime

THE AUSTRALIAN: AL-QA'IDA yesterday called for a jihad, or holy war, against the regime of Syria's Bashar al-Assad, adding an ominous new dimension to the worsening conflict.

The call raised fears that what is descending into a civil war will become a religious war.

"Don't depend on the West and Turkey, which had deals, mutual understanding and sharing with this regime for decades and only began to abandon it after they saw it faltering," said Ayman al-Zawahiri, who assumed the role of al-Qa'ida leader after the killing of Osama bin Laden.

"Don't depend on the Arab League and the corrupt governments who support it.

"Instead, depend on Allah alone and then on your sacrifices, resistance, and steadfastness."

Al-Zawahiri, in a recorded video message, said of the Syrian regime: "There is no treatment other than removal."

He urged Muslims in Lebanon, Iraq, Turkey and Jordan to join the effort.

The comments were immediately echoed by Sunni Muslim leaders in other countries. » | John Lyons, Middle East Correspondent | The Australian | Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Related »

The Fifth As-Sahab Interview with Ayman Al-Zawahiri

Islamisten in Nord-Afrika: El-Kaida-Chef will die Scharia in Libyen

BERLINER ZEITUNG: Nach dem Sturz des libyschen Diktators Gaddafi fordern Islamisten, das Scharia-Recht in Libyen einzuführen. Zugleich rief der neue El-Kaida-Chef die Algerier zu einer Revolution auf.

In einem neuen Video hat El-Kaida-Chef Aiman el Sawahiri von der neuen libyschen Führung ein Bekenntnis zum Islam gefordert. In Libyen solle nach dem Sturz des früheren Machthabers Muammar el Gaddafi islamisches Scharia-Recht eingeführt werden, sagte er nach Angaben des auf die Beobachtung islamistischer Internetseiten spezialisierten US-Unternehmens SITE vom Dienstag. Die Menschen im Nachbarland Algerien rief er zur Revolution auf.

Die in der monatelangen Auseinandersetzung zwischen Gaddafi und den libyschen Rebellen an der Seite der Aufständischen kämpfenden Nato-Truppen bezeichnete Sawahiri als „westliche Bande“, die darauf aus sei, den Islam zu besiegen. „Nehmt euch vor den Komplotten des Westens und seiner Handlanger in Acht“, sagte Sawahiri, der dem früheren El-Kaida-Chef Osama bin Laden nach dessen Tod im Mai an der Spitze des Terrornetzwerks nachgefolgt war. » | Mittwoch 12. Oktober 2011

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Ayman al-Zawahiri calls on Libyans to adopt sharia law: Ayman al-Zawahiri, the al-Qaeda leader, has praised Libyan rebels for seizing Tripoli, in his latest video, urging them to adopt sharia law. » | Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Al Qaeda hails 9/11 attacks
Sept 13 - Al Qaeda releases a video purportedly voiced by leader Ayman al-Zawahri to mark the tenth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks on the U.S. Lindsey Parietti reports.

Dix ans du 11-Septembre: Al Qaïda publie une vidéo saluant les attentats
TRIBUNE DE GENÈVE: TERRORISME | D’une durée d’une heure, une vidéo intitulée «l’aube d’une victoire imminente» dans laquelle s’exprime le nouveau chef de l’organisation islamiste, l’Egyptien Ayman al Zaouahri, a été mise en ligne sur des sites djihadistes.

Al Qaïda a publié lundi une vidéo à l’occasion du 10e anniversaire des attentats du 11-Septembre dans laquelle s’exprime le nouveau chef de l’organisation islamiste, l’Egyptien Ayman al Zaouahri. » | ATS | Mardi 13 Septembre 2011

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: 9/11 anniversary: al-Qaeda releases new video applauding Arab Spring » | Ben Farmer | Tuesday, September 13, 2011

9/11 Anniversary: US Terror Threat 'Initiated by New Al-Qaeda Chief Zawahiri'
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: US intelligence officials said they had detected a potential terrorist plot timed to coincide with the tenth anniversary of the September 11 attacks.


Security is to be heightened in New York City and Washington, DC, after a "specific, credible but unconfirmed" threat was discovered, according to a statement issued by the Department of Homeland Security.

ABC News reported that officials believe the alleged plot was initiated by the new al-Qaeda chief, Ayman al-Zawahiri, who pledged to avenge the death of Osama bin Laden earlier this year.

Janice Fedarcyk, FBI Assistant Special Agent, said: "al Qaeda has shown an interest in important dates and anniversaries. In this instance it is accurate that there is credible, specific but unconfirmed information."

President Barack Obama was briefed on the information earlier on Thursday and requested that counterterrorism officials step up their response to the suspected threat, according to White House spokesmen.

It is understood that three people who recently entered the country, one of them a US citizen, are urgently being investigated by security officials over a potential plot to detonate vehicle bombs, possibly on bridges or tunnels. » | Jon Swaine, New York | Friday, September 09, 2011

Al-Qaeda Appoints New Osama bin Laden: Ayman al-Zawahri Chosen to Lead Terrorist Organisation
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Al-Qaeda has chosen Ayman al-Zawahri as its new leader following Osama bin Laden's death in a US commando raid last month, according to a statement apparently issued by the movement’s general command.


The Egyptian surgeon was al-Qaeda’s number two for more than a decade and was widely expected to take on the top role when bin Laden was shot dead by US Navy Seals in Pakistan.

“The general command of al-Qaeda announces, after consultations, the appointment of Sheikh Ayman al-Zawahiri as head of the group,” said the statement which was posted on an Islamist website.

Al-Zawahiri, 59, issued a eulogy for bin Laden last week saying al-Qaeda’s leader had terrified the US when he was alive and would continue to do so in death. » | Rob Crilly, Islamabad | Thursday, June 16, 2011

JOY ONLINE: Profile: Ayman al-Zawahiri » | Thursday, June 16, 2011

BLOOMBERG: Al-Qaeda Names Egypt-Born Ayman Al-Zawahiri to Replace Bin Laden as Leader » | Chris Dolmetsch and Mariam Fam | Thursday, June 16, 2011

YOUTUBE: New Ayman Al Zawahiri Video Released »

Al-Qaeda's Second In Command Ayman al-Zawahiri Vows to Avenge Osama bin Laden's Death
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Ayman al-Zawahiri, al-Qaeda's long-time second in command, has vowed in a video eulogy to Osama bin Laden that he will pursue his late leader's jihad against the West.


Read the article » | Wednesday, June 08, 2011

Al-Qaida droht mit neuen Anschlägen
DIE PRESSE: Der Vizechef des Terrornetzwerks al-Qaida, Ayman al Zawahiri, ruft in einer Videobotschaft zu neuen Anschlägen auf. Er will bei der Anschlagsplanung "neue Wege finden, die dem Westen nie in den Sinn kämen".

Neuneinhalb Jahre nach den Anschlägen vom 11. September hat der Vizechef des Terrornetzwerks al-Qaida, Ayman al Zawahiri, zu neuen Anschlägen gegen den Westen aufgerufen. Nach Angaben des auf islamistische Websites spezialisierten US-Unternehmens SITE tauchte am Donnerstag eine 35 Minuten lange Botschaft von Zawahiri im Internet auf. Dabei handle es sich um ein Video, in dem nur ein Standbild der Nummer Zwei von al-Qaida zu sehen sei. Zawahiri halte in der Botschaft eine Rede. "Bis sie fliehend davonrennen" >>> Ag. | Freitag, 25. Februar 2011

Le numéro deux d'Al-Qaïda qualifie Obama de «criminel»
TRIBUNE DE GENÈVE: VIDÉO | Le numéro deux d'Al-Qaïda, Ayman al-Zawahiri, a qualifié le président américain de "criminel" dans une nouvelle vidéo rendant un hommage posthume à un chef taliban.

"Obama laisse les colonies s'étendre en Cisjordanie et autour de Jérusalem et ne montre que peu de regrets", affirme Ayman al-Zawahiri dans la vidéo dont la chaîne satellitaire du Qatar, al-Jazira, a diffusé des extraits.

"Obama fait en outre pression sur les dirigeants défaitistes pour qu'ils fassent davantage de concessions", ajoute-t-il en référence aux dirigeants arabes pressés par Washington de normaliser leurs relations avec Israël.

"Avons-nous besoin de plus de crimes à Kaboul, Bagdad, Mogadiscio et Gaza pour s'assurer que c'est un criminel? Ou bien la bassesse des Etats-Unis sous la présidence d'Obama, malgré son air souriant et affectueux, est-elle désormais claire?", se demande l'ancien médecin égyptien devenu le bras droit d'Oussama ben Laden.

Dans cet enregistrement, Zawahiri critique aussi la Turquie, appelée à commander prochainement les troupes de l'OTAN en Afghanistan.

"Chaque Turc, soucieux de l'islam et des musulmans, doit savoir que les troupes de son pays assureront le mois prochain le commandement des croisés en Afghanistan, qui brûlent les villages, détruisent les maisons et occupent la terre d'islam", dit-il.

"Les troupes turques y mèneront alors les mêmes opérations que celles menées par les juifs en Palestine. Comment le peuple turc libre acceptera-t-il un tel crime contre l'islam et les musulmans", s'est-il interrogé. >>> AFP | Mardi 29 Septembre 2009