The United States dealt a massive blow to the Al-Qaeda terrorist organisation by killing its chief Ayman al-Zawahiri in a drone strike in Afghanistan’s Kabul city over the weekend.

While addressing the nation, President Joe Biden confirmed the attack on Monday evening, saying that, “Justice has been delivered” and hoped Zawahiri’s death will bring “closure” to families of the 3,000 people killed in the 9/11 attack in the United States.

Zawahiri became the Al-Qaeda chief in 2011 after the death of Osama bin Laden at the hands of US forces in Pakistan.

Now with Zawahiri’s death, a leadership vacuum has emerged in the terrorist organisation. Though there is no official confirmation as to who would succeed Zawahiri, reports have been swirling around that Saif al-Adel, a former Egyptian colonel, will take the mantle.

Who is Saif al-Adel?

According to Middle East Institute, Adel will most likely head Al-Qaeda. According to US intelligence agencies, he is a former Egyptian army officer who is the founding member of Al-Qaeda. He was earlier associated with another terror group Maktab al-Khidmat (MAK).

MAK was founded by Osama bin Laden in the 1980s to provide money and recruit fighters around the world. It enlisted and transported thousands of men to Afghanistan to fight the Russians. The group later got split, in which bin Laden-led extremist faction formed Al-Qaeda.

Adel was also once bin Laden's security chief and is on the FBI's most-wanted list&nbsp;since 2001 in connection with Al-Qaeda’s 1998 bombings of US embassies in Kenya and Tanzania.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/taliban-condemn-zawahiri-killing-while-saudi-welcomes-the-move-502760" hreflang="en">Here's how world is reacting to the killing of Al-Qaeda chief Zawahiri</a>

The FBI has raised his bounty to $10 million.

He has been highly active in Iran in recent times and reportedly keeps issuing directives through Telegram&nbsp;to terrorist groups in Syria.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/did-the-us-use-a-secret-weapon-to-kill-al-qaeda-chief-ayman-al-zawahiri-502790">Did the US use a secret weapon to kill Al-Qaeda Chief Ayman al-Zawahiri?</a>

ABC News had earlier reported that US forces have been looking for Adel since 1993, when he orchestrated the ambush of US forces and helicopters in Mogadishu, Somalia in which 18 Americans died. Adel was 30 at that time.

(With inputs from agencies)

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

The United States dealt a massive blow to the Al-Qaeda terrorist organisation by killing its chief Ayman al-Zawahiri in a drone strike in Afghanistan’s Kabul city over the weekend.

The United States dealt a massive blow to the Al-Qaeda terrorist organisation by killing its chief Ayman al-Zawahiri in a drone strike in Afghanistan’s Kabul city over the weekend. While addressing the nation, President Joe Biden confirmed the attack on Monday evening, saying that, “Justice has been delivered” and hoped Zawahiri’s death will bring “closure” to families of the 3,000 people killed in the 9/11 attack in the United States. Zawahiri became the Al-Qaeda chief in 2011 after the death of Osama bin Laden at the hands of US forces in Pakistan. Now with Zawahiri’s death, a leadership vacuum has emerged in the terrorist organisation. Though there is no official confirmation as to who would succeed Zawahiri, reports have been swirling around that Saif al-Adel, a former Egyptian colonel, will take the mantle. Who is Saif al-Adel? According to Middle East Institute, Adel will most likely head Al-Qaeda. According to US intelligence agencies, he is a former Egyptian army officer who is the founding member of Al-Qaeda. He was earlier associated with another terror group Maktab al-Khidmat (MAK). MAK was founded by Osama bin Laden in the 1980s to provide money and recruit fighters around the world. It enlisted and transported thousands of men to Afghanistan to fight the Russians. The group later got split, in which bin Laden-led extremist faction formed Al-Qaeda. Adel was also once bin Laden's security chief and is on the FBI's most-wanted list since 2001 in connection with Al-Qaeda’s 1998 bombings of US embassies in Kenya and Tanzania. Also read | Here's how world is reacting to the killing of Al-Qaeda chief Zawahiri The FBI has raised his bounty to $10 million. He has been highly active in Iran in recent times and reportedly keeps issuing directives through Telegram to terrorist groups in Syria. Also read | Did the US use a secret weapon to kill Al-Qaeda Chief Ayman al-Zawahiri? ABC News had earlier reported that US forces have been looking for Adel since 1993, when he orchestrated the ambush of US forces and helicopters in Mogadishu, Somalia in which 18 Americans died. Adel was 30 at that time. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

After Ayman al-Zawahiri, this man is touted to helm Al-Qaeda

The death of Al Qaeda chief Ayman al-Zawahiri by the US forces brings an end to the “trail of murder and violence against American citizens”, US President Joe Biden announced in an address to the nation.

The 71-year-old terrorist, who is the key architect of the 9/11 attack, was killed in an air strike carried out by the Central Intelligences Agency (CIA) in Kabul over the weekend, Biden said.

“Al Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri has been killed in an air strike in Kabul. Justice has been delivered. No matter how long it takes, no matter where you hide, if you are a threat to our people, the US will find you and take you out,” Biden said on Monday evening.

“People around the world no longer need to fear the vicious and determined killer. The United States continues to demonstrate our resolve and our capacity to defend the American people against those who seek to do us harm," Biden added.

The fall of such a towering figure in the terrorist group is likely to bring greater disarray within the organisation than the bin Laden’s death in 2011, since no successor was announced.

Here’s what you should know about the Al-Zawahri, an eye surgeon-turned-terrorist who became the most wanted man.

<h2>Who is Ayman al-Zawahiri?</h2>

Zawahiri was born in 1951 in a comfortable neighborhood in Cairo, Egypt. His father is a prominent physician, and his grandfather is considered one of the renowned scholars.

His grandfather, Rabia'a al-Zawahiri, was an imam at al-Azhar University in Cairo. His great-uncle, Abdel Rahman Azzam, was the first secretary of the Arab League.

At a young age, Zawahiri became involved with Egypt's radical Islamist community and was reportedly arrested at 15 for joining the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood.

He was jailed for three years in Egypt for militancy and imprisoned for the involvement in the 1981 assassination of president Anwar Sadat and the massacre of foreign tourists at Luxor in 1997.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/us-conducts-drone-strike-in-afghanistan-kills-al-qaeda-chief-ayman-al-zawahiri-report-502737" hreflang="en">Al Qaeda leader Zawahiri killed in U.S. strike in Afghanistan, says Biden</a>

By that time, Zawahiri, a young doctor, was already a proscribed terrorist who conspired to oust the Egyptian government for years and sought to replace it with fundamentalist Islamic rule.

<h2>Links with Osama bin Laden</h2>

By 1985, Zawahiri had left Egypt for Peshawar, Pakistan, where he worked as a surgeon treating the fighters who were engaged with Soviet troops in Afghanistan, according to CNN.

It said that that this is where Zawahiri met bin Laden, a prominent Mujahedeen leader at the time. The two bonded well, linked by their common bond as "Afghan Arabs." He also acted as bin Laden's personal physician.

Years later, both reunited in Afghanistan, and in early 1998, bin Laden and Zawahiri announced the formation of the World Islamic Front for the Jihad Against the Jews and the Crusaders, formally merging the Egyptian Islamic Jihad and al Qaeda.

Together with bin Laden and other terrorist leaders, Zawahiri issued a "fatwa" in 1998 calling for attacks against Americans.

<h2>Ayman al-Zawahiri's role in the 9/11 attacks and aftermath</h2>

Al-Zawahri is considered the architect of the 9/11 terror attacks in 2001 when nearly 3,000 people were killed in the attacks on the twin towers of the World Trade Center and Pentagon.

Both bin Laden and he escaped US forces in Afghanistan in late 2001. In May 2003, Zawahiri was found involved in suicide bombings in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, killed 23 people, including nine Americans, days after a tape thought to contain Zawahiri's voice was released.

<h2>Ayman al-Zawahiri starts leading Al-Qaeda</h2>

After US forces killed bin Laden in 2011, Zawahiri became Al-Qaeda's leader.

He is credited for reshaping the organisation from a centralized planner of terror attacks into the head of a franchise chain. He led the creation of a network of autonomous branches around the region, including in Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, North Africa, Somalia and Asia.

When the 2001 US invasion of Afghanistan dismantled al Qaeda’s safe haven and killed its members, al-Zawahri ensured the terrorist organisation’s survival. He rebuilt its leadership in the Afghan-Pakistan border region and installed allies as lieutenants in key positions.

He also became the movement’s public face, putting out a constant stream of video messages.

The last known public address by Zawahiri was an audio message released on July 13 by the media arm of al Qaeda.

(With inputs from agencies)

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

The death of Al Qaeda chief Ayman al-Zawahiri by the US forces brings an end to the “trail of murder and violence against American citizens”, US President Joe Biden announced in an address to the nation.

The death of Al Qaeda chief Ayman al-Zawahiri by the US forces brings an end to the “trail of murder and violence against American citizens”, US President Joe Biden announced in an address to the nation. The 71-year-old terrorist, who is the key architect of the 9/11 attack, was killed in an air strike carried out by the Central Intelligences Agency (CIA) in Kabul over the weekend, Biden said. “Al Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri has been killed in an air strike in Kabul. Justice has been delivered. No matter how long it takes, no matter where you hide, if you are a threat to our people, the US will find you and take you out,” Biden said on Monday evening. “People around the world no longer need to fear the vicious and determined killer. The United States continues to demonstrate our resolve and our capacity to defend the American people against those who seek to do us harm," Biden added. The fall of such a towering figure in the terrorist group is likely to bring greater disarray within the organisation than the bin Laden’s death in 2011, since no successor was announced. Here’s what you should know about the Al-Zawahri, an eye surgeon-turned-terrorist who became the most wanted man. Who is Ayman al-Zawahiri? Zawahiri was born in 1951 in a comfortable neighborhood in Cairo, Egypt. His father is a prominent physician, and his grandfather is considered one of the renowned scholars. His grandfather, Rabia'a al-Zawahiri, was an imam at al-Azhar University in Cairo. His great-uncle, Abdel Rahman Azzam, was the first secretary of the Arab League. At a young age, Zawahiri became involved with Egypt's radical Islamist community and was reportedly arrested at 15 for joining the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood. He was jailed for three years in Egypt for militancy and imprisoned for the involvement in the 1981 assassination of president Anwar Sadat and the massacre of foreign tourists at Luxor in 1997. Also read | Al Qaeda leader Zawahiri killed in U.S. strike in Afghanistan, says Biden By that time, Zawahiri, a young doctor, was already a proscribed terrorist who conspired to oust the Egyptian government for years and sought to replace it with fundamentalist Islamic rule. Links with Osama bin Laden By 1985, Zawahiri had left Egypt for Peshawar, Pakistan, where he worked as a surgeon treating the fighters who were engaged with Soviet troops in Afghanistan, according to CNN. It said that that this is where Zawahiri met bin Laden, a prominent Mujahedeen leader at the time. The two bonded well, linked by their common bond as "Afghan Arabs." He also acted as bin Laden's personal physician. Years later, both reunited in Afghanistan, and in early 1998, bin Laden and Zawahiri announced the formation of the World Islamic Front for the Jihad Against the Jews and the Crusaders, formally merging the Egyptian Islamic Jihad and al Qaeda. Together with bin Laden and other terrorist leaders, Zawahiri issued a "fatwa" in 1998 calling for attacks against Americans. Ayman al-Zawahiri's role in the 9/11 attacks and aftermath Al-Zawahri is considered the architect of the 9/11 terror attacks in 2001 when nearly 3,000 people were killed in the attacks on the twin towers of the World Trade Center and Pentagon. Both bin Laden and he escaped US forces in Afghanistan in late 2001. In May 2003, Zawahiri was found involved in suicide bombings in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, killed 23 people, including nine Americans, days after a tape thought to contain Zawahiri's voice was released. Ayman al-Zawahiri starts leading Al-Qaeda After US forces killed bin Laden in 2011, Zawahiri became Al-Qaeda's leader. He is credited for reshaping the organisation from a centralized planner of terror attacks into the head of a franchise chain. He led the creation of a network of autonomous branches around the region, including in Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, North Africa, Somalia and Asia. When the 2001 US invasion of Afghanistan dismantled al Qaeda’s safe haven and killed its members, al-Zawahri ensured the terrorist organisation’s survival. He rebuilt its leadership in the Afghan-Pakistan border region and installed allies as lieutenants in key positions. He also became the movement’s public face, putting out a constant stream of video messages. The last known public address by Zawahiri was an audio message released on July 13 by the media arm of al Qaeda. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Who is Ayman al-Zawahiri, the Al-Qaeda chief killed by US strike?

An Al-Qaeda-affiliated group has now claimed responsibility for a terror attack that took place on a military base close to Bamako on Friday. The raid was carried out using two car bombs.

Al-Qaeda affiliate claims attack on key military base near Mali's capital

Al-Qaeda threatened to attack India as revenge for the comments made against Prophet Muhammad. The same Muslim nations who criticised the comments are silent on Al-Qaeda's threats. Palki Sharma calls out their hypocrisy.

Gravitas: Al-Qaeda threatens India, Muslim nations silent

Terrorist organisation Al-Qaeda's affiliate AQIS has threatened suicide attacks in India to fight for honour of Prophet. Indian security forces are on high alert.

Al-Qaeda threatens attacks in India; Indian security forces on high alert

Prophet remark controversy: Al-Qaeda affiliate AQIS threatens suicide attacks in India

Why has France been at war for a decade in the West African desert?

Gunmen in&nbsp;Yemen&nbsp;have&nbsp;kidnapped&nbsp;two foreign employees of Medecins Sans Frontieres (Doctors&nbsp;Without&nbsp;Borders) in eastern Hadramout governorate, a security source and two other local sources‮ ‬said.

The medical charity told Reuters it had lost contact with some of its staff in&nbsp;Yemen&nbsp;and that it could not share more details at this time out of concern for their safety.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russian-central-bank-chief-noted-for-coded-dress-wears-funeral-black-to-signal-death-of-economy-459472">Russian Central Bank chief noted for coded dress wears funeral black to signal death of economy</a>

The security source said the employees were a German and a Mexican and were taken from their car by gunmen that security forces believed to be linked to Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula.

Islamist militant groups are among many destabilising forces in war-torn&nbsp;Yemen&nbsp;which is grappling with a humanitarian crisis.

In February, five United Nations staff, including four&nbsp;Yemenis, were abducted in Abyan governorate by gunmen also believed to be linked to Al Qaeda.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-ukraine-crisis-visa-mastercard-suspend-operations-in-russia-459450">Russia Ukraine Crisis: Visa, Mastercard suspend operations in Russia</a><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russian-central-bank-chief-noted-for-coded-dress-wears-funeral-black-to-signal-death-of-economy-459472">​</a>​​​​​​

The militant group operates in south and eastern regions of&nbsp;Yemen, which has been divided by a seven-year war between the Saudi-backed government based in the south and Iran-aligned Houthi movement in the north.

Al Qaeda took advantage of 2011 Arab Spring chaos in&nbsp;Yemen&nbsp;and the ouster of a transitional government from the capital, Sanaa, by the Houthis in 2014 to create mini states, but was driven back following the intervention of a Saudi-led coalition in the war against the Houthis.

The group has also been targeted by U.S. air strikes.

Gunmen in Yemen have kidnapped two foreign employees of Medecins Sans Frontieres (Doctors Without Borders) in eastern Hadramout governorate, a security source and two other local sources‮ ‬said.

Gunmen in Yemen have kidnapped two foreign employees of Medecins Sans Frontieres (Doctors Without Borders) in eastern Hadramout governorate, a security source and two other local sources‮ ‬said. The medical charity told Reuters it had lost contact with some of its staff in Yemen and that it could not share more details at this time out of concern for their safety. Also read | Russian Central Bank chief noted for coded dress wears funeral black to signal death of economy The security source said the employees were a German and a Mexican and were taken from their car by gunmen that security forces believed to be linked to Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula. Islamist militant groups are among many destabilising forces in war-torn Yemen which is grappling with a humanitarian crisis. In February, five United Nations staff, including four Yemenis, were abducted in Abyan governorate by gunmen also believed to be linked to Al Qaeda. Also read | Russia Ukraine Crisis: Visa, Mastercard suspend operations in Russia The militant group operates in south and eastern regions of Yemen, which has been divided by a seven-year war between the Saudi-backed government based in the south and Iran-aligned Houthi movement in the north. Al Qaeda took advantage of 2011 Arab Spring chaos in Yemen and the ouster of a transitional government from the capital, Sanaa, by the Houthis in 2014 to create mini states, but was driven back following the intervention of a Saudi-led coalition in the war against the Houthis. The group has also been targeted by U.S. air strikes.

Doctors Without Borders workers kidnapped in Yemen: Report

The chair of the United Nations Security Council's counter-terror committee Ambassador T S Tirumurti has expressed concerns over links between Taliban, Al Qaida, and Pakistan-based terror groups such as Lashkar e-Tayyiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed.

Links between Taliban and LeT, JeM concerning, says UNSC's counter terror committee chair Tirumurti

US hasty withdrawal from Afghanistan and Taliban's eventual power grab has sparked concern regarding the future of the conflict-ridden country. International Community has time and again expressed fear of the region turning into a breeding ground for extremists; in the latest, the chair of the United Nations counterterrorism committee has now warned links between the Taliban Al-Qaeda and Pakistan-based terror groups.

Afghanistan may become safe haven for Taliban, Al Qaeda warns TS Tirumurti

Indian envoy to United Nations T.S. Tirumurti has slammed Pakistan at the United Nations Security Council for its support to cross border terror and&nbsp;leadership eulogizing terrorists.

Speaking at the UNSC meet, he said, "As a country that has long borne the brunt of cross-border terrorism, including the 2008 Mumbai terror attack and the 2016 Pathankot terror act, with victims of both these dastardly acts yet to get justice, India is acutely aware of the human cost of terrorism and remains fully committed to bringing the perpetrators of these terror attacks to justice."

Pakistan continues to drag its feet on taking action against 26/11 perpetrators, even after 10 years. The attack was carried by Pakistan-based terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/now-dominos-kia-apologise-for-kashmir-post-amid-social-media-storm-451601" hreflang="en">Now, Dominos, KIA apologise for Kashmir post amid social media storm</a>

Speaking at UNSC Briefing on ‘Threat to International Peace and&nbsp;Security Caused by Terrorist Acts’, envoy Tirumurti, "We should not forget the fact that, even after 20 years of September 11 attacks, we have leaders who, without any remorse, continue to defend Osama Bin Laden as a martyr".

Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan had called the Al Qaeda chief a martyr in the Pakistani parliament drawing global condemnation and shock.

Bin Laden was killed by American forces in Pakistan's Abbottabad, a compound that was less than a mile away from the country's 70-year-old Pakistan Military Academy.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/indian-delegation-to-visit-pakistan-in-march-for-indus-commission-meet-451170" hreflang="en">Indian delegation to visit Pakistan in March for Indus Commission meet</a>

"We have been highlighting consistently the threat of terrorism in our neighborhood", India's UN envoy said, pointing, "these security fears have been further exacerbated by the changed political situation in Afghanistan." UNSC's Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team released earlier this month had raised concerns over continuous links between the Taliban, especially through the Haqqani Network, and Al Qaida.

The envoy said, "We have been reiterating the close links between proscribed terrorist entities under the 1267 Sanctions regime such as Lashkar-e-Taiba and other terror groups including the Jaish-e-Mohammad", however, "in spite of repeatedly flagging these concerns, the SG’s report has failed to take notice of these linkages".

He hoped that in future iterations of such reports, "inputs from all member states would be treated on an equal footing and an evidence-based and credible yardstick be applied by its authors." UN analytical report that was issued takes recommendations from various countries and is prone to politicization as well.

During the address, India also talked about the recent terror attacks through drones in UAE and Saudi Arabia, calling for the need to work "together to develop appropriate solutions" and "evolve global standards to address these threats." Both the west Asian countries have seen Yemen-based Houthis launching attacks. January saw a drone attack in UAE's capital Abu Dabhi in which 2 Indian Nationals also died.

India's external affairs minister Dr. S Jaishankar had given an eight-point action plan to the council to deal with terror last year. The&nbsp;key focus was on "no double standards" on dealing with the issue. Indian envoy Tirumurti is also the Chair of the Counter-Terrorism Committee (CTC) of the Security council.

Indian envoy to United Nations T.S. Tirumurti has slammed Pakistan at the United Nations Security Council for its support to cross border terror and leadership eulogizing terrorists.

Indian envoy to United Nations T.S. Tirumurti has slammed Pakistan at the United Nations Security Council for its support to cross border terror and leadership eulogizing terrorists. Speaking at the UNSC meet, he said, "As a country that has long borne the brunt of cross-border terrorism, including the 2008 Mumbai terror attack and the 2016 Pathankot terror act, with victims of both these dastardly acts yet to get justice, India is acutely aware of the human cost of terrorism and remains fully committed to bringing the perpetrators of these terror attacks to justice." Pakistan continues to drag its feet on taking action against 26/11 perpetrators, even after 10 years. The attack was carried by Pakistan-based terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba. Also read | Now, Dominos, KIA apologise for Kashmir post amid social media storm Speaking at UNSC Briefing on ‘Threat to International Peace and Security Caused by Terrorist Acts’, envoy Tirumurti, "We should not forget the fact that, even after 20 years of September 11 attacks, we have leaders who, without any remorse, continue to defend Osama Bin Laden as a martyr". Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan had called the Al Qaeda chief a martyr in the Pakistani parliament drawing global condemnation and shock. Bin Laden was killed by American forces in Pakistan's Abbottabad, a compound that was less than a mile away from the country's 70-year-old Pakistan Military Academy. Also read | Indian delegation to visit Pakistan in March for Indus Commission meet "We have been highlighting consistently the threat of terrorism in our neighborhood", India's UN envoy said, pointing, "these security fears have been further exacerbated by the changed political situation in Afghanistan." UNSC's Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team released earlier this month had raised concerns over continuous links between the Taliban, especially through the Haqqani Network, and Al Qaida. The envoy said, "We have been reiterating the close links between proscribed terrorist entities under the 1267 Sanctions regime such as Lashkar-e-Taiba and other terror groups including the Jaish-e-Mohammad", however, "in spite of repeatedly flagging these concerns, the SG’s report has failed to take notice of these linkages". He hoped that in future iterations of such reports, "inputs from all member states would be treated on an equal footing and an evidence-based and credible yardstick be applied by its authors." UN analytical report that was issued takes recommendations from various countries and is prone to politicization as well. During the address, India also talked about the recent terror attacks through drones in UAE and Saudi Arabia, calling for the need to work "together to develop appropriate solutions" and "evolve global standards to address these threats." Both the west Asian countries have seen Yemen-based Houthis launching attacks. January saw a drone attack in UAE's capital Abu Dabhi in which 2 Indian Nationals also died. India's external affairs minister Dr. S Jaishankar had given an eight-point action plan to the council to deal with terror last year. The key focus was on "no double standards" on dealing with the issue. Indian envoy Tirumurti is also the Chair of the Counter-Terrorism Committee (CTC) of the Security council.

'We have leaders who continue to defend Laden as a martyr', India's UN envoy at UNSC

US lawmakers considered president Biden's nominee to lead the military's top command overseeing operations in the middle east in a wide-ranging senate confirmation hearing. Lieutenant general Michael Kurilla warned that Al Qaeda and ISIS are reconstituting.

Michael Kurilla: Al Qaeda and ISIS reconstituting

Al Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri released another anti-atheism video on Wednesday.

SITE Intelligence Group which tracks terror-related activities on social media said the terrorist leader called on Muslims worldwide to champion the cause of the "oppressed" in the 32-minute video.

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AQ Leader Zawahiri Again Calls on Muslims to Champion Causes of "Oppressed" Peoples in 3rd Episode of Anti-Atheism Series <a href="https://t.co/o8KVbuBCx0">https://t.co/o8KVbuBCx0</a> <a href="https://t.co/T0FplpQamk">pic.twitter.com/T0FplpQamk</a>
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Al-Zawahiri had released another video on February 4 in a series called "deal of the century or the crusade of the century".

The whereabouts of the Al Qaeda chief is unknown with reports claiming he has been unwell for some time. &nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/destroyer-isis-terrorist-al-qurashi-low-profile-but-brutal-operator-450640">Also Read in Pics:&nbsp;'Destroyer' ISIS terrorist al-Qurashi: Low-profile but brutal operator &nbsp;</a>

In a video posted in November last year, al-Zawahiri had attacked United Nations for being hostile towards Islam stating that “the United Nations was created by the victorious powers in the Second World War with the aim of imposing a political system and doctrine on the entire world."

The Al Qaeda leader had also posted a video during the 9/11 anniversary last year on Telegram with the title "Jerusalem will not be Judaised". However, Islamic State(IS) and other terrorist networks had cast doubts on the authenticity of the video.&nbsp;

In the 9/11 video, Zawahiri had said 19 Mujahideen fighters had "wounded America's heart" referring to the attackers who carried out the attacks on September 2001 in New York and Washington.

Zawahiri had succeeded Osama bin Laden after the Al Qaeda chief was killed in a US raid at his hideout in Abbottabad, Pakistan in May 2011.&nbsp;

(With inputs from Agencies)

Al Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri released another anti-atheism video on Wednesday. SITE Intelligence Group which tracks terror-related activities on social media said the terrorist leader called on Muslims worldwide to champion the cause of the "oppressed" in the 32-minute video.

Al Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri released another anti-atheism video on Wednesday. SITE Intelligence Group which tracks terror-related activities on social media said the terrorist leader called on Muslims worldwide to champion the cause of the "oppressed" in the 32-minute video. AQ Leader Zawahiri Again Calls on Muslims to Champion Causes of "Oppressed" Peoples in 3rd Episode of Anti-Atheism Series https://t.co/o8KVbuBCx0 pic.twitter.com/T0FplpQamk — SITE Intel - Jihadist Threat (@siteintel_jt) February 8, 2022 × Al-Zawahiri had released another video on February 4 in a series called "deal of the century or the crusade of the century". The whereabouts of the Al Qaeda chief is unknown with reports claiming he has been unwell for some time. Also Read in Pics: 'Destroyer' ISIS terrorist al-Qurashi: Low-profile but brutal operator In a video posted in November last year, al-Zawahiri had attacked United Nations for being hostile towards Islam stating that “the United Nations was created by the victorious powers in the Second World War with the aim of imposing a political system and doctrine on the entire world." The Al Qaeda leader had also posted a video during the 9/11 anniversary last year on Telegram with the title "Jerusalem will not be Judaised". However, Islamic State(IS) and other terrorist networks had cast doubts on the authenticity of the video. In the 9/11 video, Zawahiri had said 19 Mujahideen fighters had "wounded America's heart" referring to the attackers who carried out the attacks on September 2001 in New York and Washington. Zawahiri had succeeded Osama bin Laden after the Al Qaeda chief was killed in a US raid at his hideout in Abbottabad, Pakistan in May 2011. (With inputs from Agencies)

Al Qaeda's Zawahiri surfaces in video again; calls on Muslims to champion cause of 'oppressed'

Lieutenant general Michael Kurilla warns Al Qaeda-ISIS merger in Afghanistan

An unidentified man in Texas had taken hostage four people at a synagogue, demanding the release of Aafia Siddiqui, dubbed as the “Lady Qaeda”, who is currently lodged in US jail.

After a 10-hour stand-off, all the people were freed unharmed and the gunman was killed, Colleyville Police Chief Michael Miller said at a news conference.

The FBI said they have confirmed the identity of the gunman but had not yet disclosed it.

During the stand-off, the man claimed to be Siddiqui’s brother, which was later found to be false.

Even though the FBI declined to confirm the cause of his death, saying it was still under investigation, the relationship between the attacker and Aafia Siddiqui is yet to be ascertained.

Who is Aafia Siddiqui?

Siddiqui is a Pakistani neuroscientist who studied in the United States at prestigious institutions — Brandeis University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

She lived in the United States from roughly 1991 to June 2002.

After the 9/11 terror attacks of 2001, she was said to be radicalised came and subsequently, came under the FBI’s radar for making donations to Islamic organisations and was also linked to the purchase of $10,000 worth of night-vision goggles and books on warfare.

The US suspected she joined Al-Qaeda from America, returning to Pakistan where she married into the family of Khalid Sheikh Mohammed —an architect of the 9/11 attacks.

Siddiqui then disappeared around 2003, along with her three children, in Karachi.

She resurfaced five years later in Afghanistan where she was arrested on the suspicion of trying to attack the governor of Afghanistan's Ghazni province.

When she was captured, Siddiqui was carrying notes detailing a “mass casualty attack” on New York City sites, including the Empire State Building, the Statue of Liberty, Wall Street, and the Brooklyn Bridge, according to prosecutors and&nbsp;court&nbsp;records.&nbsp;

When she was brought for interrogation, Siddiqui grabbed the M-4 military rifle of a chief warrant officer and opened fire, wounding few members of US special forces unit.

Subsequently, Siddiqui was detained and flown to the United States.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/hostage-crisis-at-us-synagogue-ends-everyone-out-alive-safe-445112">Hostage crisis at US synagogue ends: Everyone out alive, safe</a>

On February 3, 2010, a federal jury found her guilty of all counts related to the attack, including attempting to kill U.S. nationals outside the United States; attempting to kill U.S. officers and employees; and armed assault of US officers and employees.

Who else is seeking her release?

For long, her release has been sought by militant Islamists, including ISIS, and even many US Muslim groups who have said that she is innocent and should be freed.

Al-Qaeda had even called on Muslims to “avenge” the decision to jail her.

Michael Kugelman, a South Asia analyst, tweeted, “Siddiqui isn’t well known in the US, but in Pakistan, she's a big name —many view her as an innocent victim.”

During his election campaign, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan, an open critic of the US-led “war on terror”, vowed to get her released.

In a previous article, he described her as a cause celebre among terrorists, and said she was viewed as a "powerful symbol of how poorly Americans treat innocent Muslims in the global campaign against terror".

What’s the latest on Siddiqui’s imprisonment?

Siddiqui, who is serving an 86-year sentence, is being held at a federal prison in Fort Worth, Texas.

She was attacked in July by another inmate at the facility and suffered serious injuries, according to court documents.

A lawyer representing Siddiqui, Marwa Elbially, told CNN in a statement the man was not Siddiqui’s brother. He implored the man to release the hostages, saying Siddiqui’s family condemned his “heinous” actions.

(With inputs from agencies)

An unidentified man in Texas had taken hostage four people at a synagogue, demanding the release of Aafia Siddiqui, dubbed as the “Lady Qaeda”, who is currently lodged in US jail.

An unidentified man in Texas had taken hostage four people at a synagogue, demanding the release of Aafia Siddiqui, dubbed as the “Lady Qaeda”, who is currently lodged in US jail. After a 10-hour stand-off, all the people were freed unharmed and the gunman was killed, Colleyville Police Chief Michael Miller said at a news conference. The FBI said they have confirmed the identity of the gunman but had not yet disclosed it. During the stand-off, the man claimed to be Siddiqui’s brother, which was later found to be false. Even though the FBI declined to confirm the cause of his death, saying it was still under investigation, the relationship between the attacker and Aafia Siddiqui is yet to be ascertained. Who is Aafia Siddiqui? Siddiqui is a Pakistani neuroscientist who studied in the United States at prestigious institutions — Brandeis University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. She lived in the United States from roughly 1991 to June 2002. After the 9/11 terror attacks of 2001, she was said to be radicalised came and subsequently, came under the FBI’s radar for making donations to Islamic organisations and was also linked to the purchase of $10,000 worth of night-vision goggles and books on warfare. The US suspected she joined Al-Qaeda from America, returning to Pakistan where she married into the family of Khalid Sheikh Mohammed —an architect of the 9/11 attacks. Siddiqui then disappeared around 2003, along with her three children, in Karachi. She resurfaced five years later in Afghanistan where she was arrested on the suspicion of trying to attack the governor of Afghanistan's Ghazni province. When she was captured, Siddiqui was carrying notes detailing a “mass casualty attack” on New York City sites, including the Empire State Building, the Statue of Liberty, Wall Street, and the Brooklyn Bridge, according to prosecutors and court records. When she was brought for interrogation, Siddiqui grabbed the M-4 military rifle of a chief warrant officer and opened fire, wounding few members of US special forces unit. Subsequently, Siddiqui was detained and flown to the United States. Also read | Hostage crisis at US synagogue ends: Everyone out alive, safe On February 3, 2010, a federal jury found her guilty of all counts related to the attack, including attempting to kill U.S. nationals outside the United States; attempting to kill U.S. officers and employees; and armed assault of US officers and employees. Who else is seeking her release? For long, her release has been sought by militant Islamists, including ISIS, and even many US Muslim groups who have said that she is innocent and should be freed. Al-Qaeda had even called on Muslims to “avenge” the decision to jail her. Michael Kugelman, a South Asia analyst, tweeted, “Siddiqui isn’t well known in the US, but in Pakistan, she's a big name —many view her as an innocent victim.” During his election campaign, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan, an open critic of the US-led “war on terror”, vowed to get her released. In a previous article, he described her as a cause celebre among terrorists, and said she was viewed as a "powerful symbol of how poorly Americans treat innocent Muslims in the global campaign against terror". What’s the latest on Siddiqui’s imprisonment? Siddiqui, who is serving an 86-year sentence, is being held at a federal prison in Fort Worth, Texas. She was attacked in July by another inmate at the facility and suffered serious injuries, according to court documents. A lawyer representing Siddiqui, Marwa Elbially, told CNN in a statement the man was not Siddiqui’s brother. He implored the man to release the hostages, saying Siddiqui’s family condemned his “heinous” actions. (With inputs from agencies)

Who is Aafia Siddiqui, the Pak prisoner at the centre of Texas hostage situation?

The United Nations is proposing to pay nearly $6 million for protection in Afghanistan to&nbsp;Taliban-run Interior Ministry personnel, whose chief is under UN&nbsp;and US&nbsp;sanctions and wanted by the FBI, according to a UN&nbsp;document and a source familiar with the matter.

The proposed funds would be paid next year mostly to subsidise&nbsp;the monthly wages of&nbsp;Taliban&nbsp;fighters guarding UN&nbsp;facilities and to provide them a monthly food allowance under an expansion of an accord with the former US-backed Afghan government, the document reviewed by Reuters shows.

The plan underscores the persisting insecurity in Afghanistan following the Islamist&nbsp;Taliban’s takeover in August as the last US&nbsp;troops left, as well as a dire shortage of funds hampering the new government because of a cutoff of international financial aid.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/after-taliban-govt-resumed-issuing-passports-hundreds-queue-outside-the-office-in-a-bid-to-leave-afghanistan-438244" hreflang="en">As Taliban govt resumed issuing passports, hundreds queue outside the office</a>

“The United Nations has a duty as an employer to reinforce and, where necessary, supplement the capacity of host states in circumstances where UN&nbsp;personnel work in areas of insecurity,” deputy UN&nbsp;spokesman Farhan Haq wrote in an email in response to Reuters’ questions about the proposed payments. He did not dispute the contents of the document.

Several experts said the proposed payments raise questions about whether they would violate US&nbsp;and UN&nbsp;sanctions on the&nbsp;Taliban&nbsp;and their top leaders, and whether the United Nations could detect diversions of funds for other purposes.

“What it comes down to is there is no proper oversight,” said the source, who requested anonymity to discuss the matter.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/days-after-oic-meet-tension-ensues-between-pakistan-and-afghanistan-on-durand-line-border-438954" hreflang="en">Days after OIC meet, tension ensues between Pakistan and Afghanistan on Durand Line border</a>

Those under sanctions include deputy&nbsp;Taliban&nbsp;leader and Interior Ministry chief Sirajuddin Haqqani. He heads the Haqqani network, a faction blamed for some of the bloodiest attacks over 20 years of war. The United States, which says Haqqani is close to al Qaeda, is offering a $10 million reward for information leading to his arrest.

The UN&nbsp;Assistance Mission to Afghanistan (UNAMA) budget is “currently under review,” but the mission “maintains full compliance with all UN&nbsp;sanctions regimes,” Haq said.

He did not respond to a question about whether the proposed payments would breach US&nbsp;sanctions.

Also see |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/dont-politicise-education-and-right-to-work-afghan-women-protest-against-taliban-government-422880" hreflang="en">'Don't politicise education and right to work:' Afghan women protest against Taliban government</a>

A US&nbsp;Treasury Department official said the&nbsp;Taliban&nbsp;and the Haqqani network remain designated under the US&nbsp;government's counterterrorism sanctions program and that unauthorized people supporting them "risk exposure to US&nbsp;sanctions."

The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, declined to comment on the UN&nbsp;proposal.

Food shortages, economic collapse

The proposed funds would bolster the cash-strapped&nbsp;Taliban’s ability to protect some 3,500 UN&nbsp;personnel in Kabul and 10 field offices. Many are striving to help the country of 39 million cope with food shortages amid a public services breakdown and an economic collapse accelerated by the evaporation of foreign financial aid.

The UN&nbsp;document says most of a proposed $4 million security budget for 2022 shared by the 20 UN&nbsp;agencies operating in Afghanistan “constitutes payments in respect of supplementing host nation resources for their primary responsibility to protect UN&nbsp;personnel (as foreseen in our SOMA).”

SOMA stands for a Status of Mission Agreement with the former government. Under the accord, the United Nations subsidized the costs to the Interior Ministry of police who protected UN&nbsp;facilities, the source said.

Most of the $4 million would boost the wages of individual&nbsp;Taliban&nbsp;members by $275-to-$319 per month and provide a monthly food allowance of $90 per person, “which was previously only paid in the regions but now also extended to Kabul,” the document said.

UNAMA would spend an additional nearly $2 million “for similar services” outside the security budget shared with other UN&nbsp;agencies, the document added.

“The UN&nbsp;system provided allowances to personnel who perform supplementary security services which are critical to the safety of personnel and compounds, as well as operations and movements in the country,” said Haq.

Such funds, he said, are paid directly to recipients "and not through the de facto authorities.”

The United Nations is proposing to pay nearly $6 million for protection in Afghanistan to Taliban-run Interior Ministry personnel, whose chief is under UN and US sanctions and wanted by the FBI, according to a UN document and a source familiar with the matter.

The United Nations is proposing to pay nearly $6 million for protection in Afghanistan to Taliban-run Interior Ministry personnel, whose chief is under UN and US sanctions and wanted by the FBI, according to a UN document and a source familiar with the matter. The proposed funds would be paid next year mostly to subsidise the monthly wages of Taliban fighters guarding UN facilities and to provide them a monthly food allowance under an expansion of an accord with the former US-backed Afghan government, the document reviewed by Reuters shows. The plan underscores the persisting insecurity in Afghanistan following the Islamist Taliban’s takeover in August as the last US troops left, as well as a dire shortage of funds hampering the new government because of a cutoff of international financial aid. Also read | As Taliban govt resumed issuing passports, hundreds queue outside the office “The United Nations has a duty as an employer to reinforce and, where necessary, supplement the capacity of host states in circumstances where UN personnel work in areas of insecurity,” deputy UN spokesman Farhan Haq wrote in an email in response to Reuters’ questions about the proposed payments. He did not dispute the contents of the document. Several experts said the proposed payments raise questions about whether they would violate US and UN sanctions on the Taliban and their top leaders, and whether the United Nations could detect diversions of funds for other purposes. “What it comes down to is there is no proper oversight,” said the source, who requested anonymity to discuss the matter. Also read | Days after OIC meet, tension ensues between Pakistan and Afghanistan on Durand Line border Those under sanctions include deputy Taliban leader and Interior Ministry chief Sirajuddin Haqqani. He heads the Haqqani network, a faction blamed for some of the bloodiest attacks over 20 years of war. The United States, which says Haqqani is close to al Qaeda, is offering a $10 million reward for information leading to his arrest. The UN Assistance Mission to Afghanistan (UNAMA) budget is “currently under review,” but the mission “maintains full compliance with all UN sanctions regimes,” Haq said. He did not respond to a question about whether the proposed payments would breach US sanctions. Also see | 'Don't politicise education and right to work:' Afghan women protest against Taliban government A US Treasury Department official said the Taliban and the Haqqani network remain designated under the US government's counterterrorism sanctions program and that unauthorized people supporting them "risk exposure to US sanctions." The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, declined to comment on the UN proposal. Food shortages, economic collapse The proposed funds would bolster the cash-strapped Taliban’s ability to protect some 3,500 UN personnel in Kabul and 10 field offices. Many are striving to help the country of 39 million cope with food shortages amid a public services breakdown and an economic collapse accelerated by the evaporation of foreign financial aid. The UN document says most of a proposed $4 million security budget for 2022 shared by the 20 UN agencies operating in Afghanistan “constitutes payments in respect of supplementing host nation resources for their primary responsibility to protect UN personnel (as foreseen in our SOMA).” SOMA stands for a Status of Mission Agreement with the former government. Under the accord, the United Nations subsidized the costs to the Interior Ministry of police who protected UN facilities, the source said. Most of the $4 million would boost the wages of individual Taliban members by $275-to-$319 per month and provide a monthly food allowance of $90 per person, “which was previously only paid in the regions but now also extended to Kabul,” the document said. UNAMA would spend an additional nearly $2 million “for similar services” outside the security budget shared with other UN agencies, the document added. “The UN system provided allowances to personnel who perform supplementary security services which are critical to the safety of personnel and compounds, as well as operations and movements in the country,” said Haq. Such funds, he said, are paid directly to recipients "and not through the de facto authorities.”

UN proposes to pay nearly $6 million to Taliban for security

US State Department's rewards for justice programme on Monday announced&nbsp;rewards of up to $5 million on terrorists who had attacked&nbsp;American nationals in 2015.

The State Department said the terrorists from the Al Qaeda-linked terror organisation&nbsp;had killed writer Avijit Roy and wounded his wife Rafida Bonya Ahmed during the attack in Dhaka.

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Reward! Up to $5 Million for Information 
On Attack Against Americans in Bangladesh 
 
In 2015, terrorists killed Avijit Roy and wounded his wife, Rafida Ahmed, in Dhaka, Bangladesh. 
 
If you have info on those responsible for this heinous attack, text us at the number below. <a href="https://t.co/cB26VVBKve">pic.twitter.com/cB26VVBKve</a>
— Rewards for Justice (@RFJ_USA) <a href="https://twitter.com/RFJ_USA/status/1472930100781977602?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 20, 2021</a></blockquote>
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The Bangladesh court this year had sentenced five terrorists to death while sending one of them to life imprisonment.

The US government said, "Two of those defendants Syed Ziaul Haque and Akram Hossain were tried and remain at large." The State Department has offered rewards for information&nbsp;leading to the arrest of the two terrorists.

Avijit Roy and his wife were returning from a book fair when they were attacked by the terrorists.&nbsp;

The Bangladesh court said charges against the defendants were proved while delivering the verdict. Special prosecutor Mohammed Golan Sharuar Khan had said their aim was to "kill bloggers, writers and publishers to stop freedom of speech of people and disrupt public safety by creating panic among the people.” &nbsp;

Avijit was gunned down by the terrorists as his wife received severe wounds during the attack on February 26, 2015. Avijit’s father later filed a murder case. The Bangladesh court reached its verdict in February 2021.

(With inputs from Agencies)&nbsp;&nbsp;

US State Department's rewards for justice programme on Monday announced rewards of up to $5 million on terrorists who had attacked American nationals in 2015. The State Department said the terrorists from the Al Qaeda-linked terror organisation had killed writer Avijit Roy and wounded his wife Rafida Bonya Ahmed during the attack in Dhaka.

US State Department's rewards for justice programme on Monday announced rewards of up to $5 million on terrorists who had attacked American nationals in 2015. The State Department said the terrorists from the Al Qaeda-linked terror organisation had killed writer Avijit Roy and wounded his wife Rafida Bonya Ahmed during the attack in Dhaka. Reward! Up to $5 Million for Information On Attack Against Americans in Bangladesh In 2015, terrorists killed Avijit Roy and wounded his wife, Rafida Ahmed, in Dhaka, Bangladesh. If you have info on those responsible for this heinous attack, text us at the number below. pic.twitter.com/cB26VVBKve — Rewards for Justice (@RFJ_USA) December 20, 2021 × The Bangladesh court this year had sentenced five terrorists to death while sending one of them to life imprisonment. The US government said, "Two of those defendants Syed Ziaul Haque and Akram Hossain were tried and remain at large." The State Department has offered rewards for information leading to the arrest of the two terrorists. Avijit Roy and his wife were returning from a book fair when they were attacked by the terrorists. The Bangladesh court said charges against the defendants were proved while delivering the verdict. Special prosecutor Mohammed Golan Sharuar Khan had said their aim was to "kill bloggers, writers and publishers to stop freedom of speech of people and disrupt public safety by creating panic among the people.” Avijit was gunned down by the terrorists as his wife received severe wounds during the attack on February 26, 2015. Avijit’s father later filed a murder case. The Bangladesh court reached its verdict in February 2021. (With inputs from Agencies)

US announces $5 million reward for information on attack against Americans in Bangladesh

Terrorist organisation Al Qaeda is attempting to rebuild its presence inside Taliban controlled Afghanistan. The war ravaged country was the base from which Al Qaeda planned the 9/11 attacks against US in 2001.

How to deal with the growth of Al Qaeda & ISIS?

A car bombing near a school in Somalia’s capital Mogadishu claimed eight lives and left around a dozen injured on Thursday, in the attack claimed by Al Shabaab Islamic terrorists.

According to reports, a large convoy carrying troops from AMISOM, the African Union force fighting the Al-Qaeda-linked Al Shabaab group, was passing through the area when the bomb went off.

Somalia police spokesman Abdifatah Adan said in a brief statement that eight civilians were killed, and 17 others wounded, without giving further details.

Anguished parents rushed to the scene of the attack, which severely damaged the school building, with injured students taken to hospitals around the city, according to AFP.

Claiming responsibility for the blast, Al-Shabaab said the bomb was aimed at the “military trainers.”

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/al-shabaab-militants-attack-military-base-recapture-somalian-town-from-govt-forces-408112">Al Shabaab militants attack military base, recapture Somalian town from govt forces</a>

The latest attack comes on the back of the killing of a prominent Somali journalist, Abdiaziz Mohamud Guled.

Al-Shabaab had claimed responsibility for the bombing, which left a colleague of the journalist seriously wounded.

Guled, the director of government-owned Radio Mogadishu, was a fierce critic of the Islamists.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/al-shabaab-calls-for-attacks-on-us-french-interests-in-djibouti-373888">Al-Shabaab calls for attacks on US, French interests in Djibouti</a>

Al Shabaab, which has been waging a violent insurgency against the country’s fragile government since 2007, said its fighters had long pursued the journalist.

The militants also claimed two attacks in September that killed 17 people.

A car bombing on September 25 near the presidential palace killed eight people, including the prime minister’s adviser for women and human rights, Hibaq Abukar.

Eleven days earlier, nine people, most of them members of Somalia’s security forces, died in a blast near a Mogadishu checkpoint.

Al-Shabaab controlled the capital until 2011 when it was pushed out by AMISOM troops, but it still holds territory in the countryside and launches frequent attacks against government and civilian targets in Mogadishu and elsewhere.

(With inputs from agencies)

A car bombing near a school in Somalia’s capital Mogadishu claimed eight lives and left around a dozen injured on Thursday, in the attack claimed by Al Shabaab Islamic terrorists.

A car bombing near a school in Somalia’s capital Mogadishu claimed eight lives and left around a dozen injured on Thursday, in the attack claimed by Al Shabaab Islamic terrorists. According to reports, a large convoy carrying troops from AMISOM, the African Union force fighting the Al-Qaeda-linked Al Shabaab group, was passing through the area when the bomb went off. Somalia police spokesman Abdifatah Adan said in a brief statement that eight civilians were killed, and 17 others wounded, without giving further details. Anguished parents rushed to the scene of the attack, which severely damaged the school building, with injured students taken to hospitals around the city, according to AFP. Claiming responsibility for the blast, Al-Shabaab said the bomb was aimed at the “military trainers.” Also read | Al Shabaab militants attack military base, recapture Somalian town from govt forces The latest attack comes on the back of the killing of a prominent Somali journalist, Abdiaziz Mohamud Guled. Al-Shabaab had claimed responsibility for the bombing, which left a colleague of the journalist seriously wounded. Guled, the director of government-owned Radio Mogadishu, was a fierce critic of the Islamists. Also read | Al-Shabaab calls for attacks on US, French interests in Djibouti Al Shabaab, which has been waging a violent insurgency against the country’s fragile government since 2007, said its fighters had long pursued the journalist. The militants also claimed two attacks in September that killed 17 people. A car bombing on September 25 near the presidential palace killed eight people, including the prime minister’s adviser for women and human rights, Hibaq Abukar. Eleven days earlier, nine people, most of them members of Somalia’s security forces, died in a blast near a Mogadishu checkpoint. Al-Shabaab controlled the capital until 2011 when it was pushed out by AMISOM troops, but it still holds territory in the countryside and launches frequent attacks against government and civilian targets in Mogadishu and elsewhere. (With inputs from agencies)

8 killed, 17 injured in suicide blast near school in Mogadishu, Al Shabaab claims responsibility

Pakistan has issued a terror alert that Al-Qaeda has planned to carry out terrorist activities in the big cities of Islamabad, Rawalpindi. The high-level advisory also warned that the attack might come in the form of an improvised explosive device in a vehicle or suicide bomber.

Pakistan deems threat from Al Qaeda, terror alert issued for Islamabad, Rawalpindi

Al-Qaeda's chief Ayman Al-Zawahiri has made a new appearance in a video released by the terrorist organisation on its official As-Sahab media. In the video, the chief can be seen criticising the United Nations for being hostile towards Islam.

Al-Qaeda's chief Ayman Al-Zawahiri has made a new appearance in a video released by the terrorist organisation on its official As-Sahab media. In the video, the chief can be seen criticising the United Nations for being hostile towards Islam. The stated purpose of Ayman al-Zawahiri’s speech is to “warn the Islamic nation about the threat that the United Nations poses.” Al-Zawahiri attacked the international organisation as he stated that “the United Nations was created by the victorious powers in the Second World War with the aim of imposing a political system and doctrine on the entire world, and with a view to establishing their hegemony over the rest of mankind.” As of now, it is not clear when and where the video was recorded. Global #alQaeda leader releases marathon rant against the #UN. Among Zawahiri's long list of UN sins: -serving superpower interests -opposing Islam -endorsing #Israel -betraying #Palestine -undermining Sharia (esp annoyed at gender equality) A gruelling 38 soundbite-free minutes pic.twitter.com/qHei65dXeZ — Elisabeth Kendall (@Dr_E_Kendall) November 23, 2021 × NEW: #alQaida leader Ayman al-Zawahiri appears in just-released video - criticizing the @UN Per @siteintelgroup, Zawahiri -reported to be in ill health- does not cite any events or dates that would indicate when the video was made pic.twitter.com/xISZuKQFsC — Jeff Seldin (@jseldin) November 23, 2021 × He further states that the UN’s decisions should be rejected because they have been formulated by “an organisation created to control the world and to impose on it an irreligious and immoral ideology that contradicts the Islamic Shariah.” In the video, he can be seen criticising the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, which are, China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States. He says that they “enjoy a sacrosanct status above all, for they pull the strings in the UN.” He referred to them as “the biggest criminals on the face of the earth.” Also read | Terrorist vs terrorist: Al Qaeda leader Zawahiri claims credit for 9/11, Islamic State asks if he is still alive Nearly one year ago, people on various social media platforms shared the news of the death of Al-Zawahiri. It was said that Al Qaeda's close circles were reporting his death because of natural causes. However, in September, as the US marked the 20th anniversary of 9/11, Al Qaeda released a video of Al-Zawahiri on Telegram messaging app titled "Jerusalem will not be Judaised". The Islamic State then doubted the veracity of the video, challenging Al Qaeda to prove that Al-Zawahiri is still alive. The doubt was caused as Al-Zawahiri did not mention the Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan in the video message. In the video, he was shown praising the Al Qaeda terrorists who were killed last year. It referred to the Taliban just once, saying America is "broken and shattered."

Al Qaeda chief Zawahiri, in a new video, criticises UN for being hostile towards Islam

According to a report, Facebook has a list of thousands of individuals and organisations which it categories as those belonging to terrorism, hate organisations, militarised social movements, non-state actors and militant groups.

The list is however not a new&nbsp;phenomenon, the social media giant reportedly started it back in 2012 when it was facing a backlash from the US government and the UN over online recruitment by terror organisations. The social media giant reportedly added best practises community standards in order to keep out hate and violence from its platform.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/take-a-break-nudge-facebook-instagram-to-launch-features-to-keep-kids-away-from-harmful-content-419896#:~:text=With%20the%20new%20'take%20a,to%20look%20at%20different%20stuff.">Also Read:&nbsp;Facebook-Instagram to launch features to keep kids away from harmful content</a>

The report published by <a href="https://theintercept.com/document/2021/10/12/facebook-dangerous-individuals-and-organizations-list-reproduced-snapshot/">The Intercept </a>shows how Facebook has identified little known terror organisations on its platform from South Asia, Russia, Europe, Turkey, Pakistan, Middle East and North Africa.

It records Al Qaeda's media wing, also the media wing of the Taliban. In fact, the media wings have been especially targeted covering the Islamic Revolutionary Cops Guard, the Islamic State, Al-Aqsa&nbsp;media of Jammu and Kashmir belonging to the Lahkar-e-Taiba(LeT) and others.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/facebook-algorithms-promote-falsehood-faster-than-truth-frances-haugen-419246">Watch:&nbsp;Facebook algorithms promote falsehood faster than truth, says Haugen</a>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/facebook-algorithms-promote-falsehood-faster-than-truth-frances-haugen-419246/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

A group named Haji Basir and Zarjmil Company Hawala reportedly belonging to Pakistan has also been named in the list, including a little known organisation called Haji Khairullah Haji Sattar Money Exchange belonging to Afghanistan and Pakistan.

The list also has a category for criminal organisations on Facebook stretching from Brazil, US, Europe, Columbia and Mexico.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/facebook-makes-an-attempt-to-stop-the-illegal-sale-of-amazon-rainforest-419379">Also Read:&nbsp;Facebook makes an attempt to stop the illegal sale of Amazon rainforest</a>

The hate groups are identified under music bands in US, Germany, Sweden and several other nations.&nbsp;The militarised social movement under the description "armed militia group" identifies groups that spew venom on social media.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/facebook-makes-an-attempt-to-stop-the-illegal-sale-of-amazon-rainforest-419379">Also Read:&nbsp;Facebook makes an attempt to stop the illegal sale of Amazon rainforest</a>

There is also a category for non-state actors from the Middle East, Africa and North America including a list of individuals under the hate category&nbsp;which includes the Proud Boys.

The list also targets individuals reportedly associated&nbsp;with Al Qaeda's central command, Hamas, Taliban, Haqqani Network, LeT, JeM, Al Shabaab and others.

(With inputs from Agencies)

According to a report, Facebook has a list of thousands of individuals and organisations which it categories as those belonging to terrorism, hate organisations, militarised social movements, non-state actors and militant groups.

According to a report, Facebook has a list of thousands of individuals and organisations which it categories as those belonging to terrorism, hate organisations, militarised social movements, non-state actors and militant groups. The list is however not a new phenomenon, the social media giant reportedly started it back in 2012 when it was facing a backlash from the US government and the UN over online recruitment by terror organisations. The social media giant reportedly added best practises community standards in order to keep out hate and violence from its platform. Also Read: Facebook-Instagram to launch features to keep kids away from harmful content The report published by The Intercept shows how Facebook has identified little known terror organisations on its platform from South Asia, Russia, Europe, Turkey, Pakistan, Middle East and North Africa. It records Al Qaeda's media wing, also the media wing of the Taliban. In fact, the media wings have been especially targeted covering the Islamic Revolutionary Cops Guard, the Islamic State, Al-Aqsa media of Jammu and Kashmir belonging to the Lahkar-e-Taiba(LeT) and others. Watch: Facebook algorithms promote falsehood faster than truth, says Haugen A group named Haji Basir and Zarjmil Company Hawala reportedly belonging to Pakistan has also been named in the list, including a little known organisation called Haji Khairullah Haji Sattar Money Exchange belonging to Afghanistan and Pakistan. The list also has a category for criminal organisations on Facebook stretching from Brazil, US, Europe, Columbia and Mexico. Also Read: Facebook makes an attempt to stop the illegal sale of Amazon rainforest The hate groups are identified under music bands in US, Germany, Sweden and several other nations. The militarised social movement under the description "armed militia group" identifies groups that spew venom on social media. Also Read: Facebook makes an attempt to stop the illegal sale of Amazon rainforest There is also a category for non-state actors from the Middle East, Africa and North America including a list of individuals under the hate category which includes the Proud Boys. The list also targets individuals reportedly associated with Al Qaeda's central command, Hamas, Taliban, Haqqani Network, LeT, JeM, Al Shabaab and others. (With inputs from Agencies)

How Facebook kept secret list of terror organisations, hate groups and criminals

The United States continues with its war on terror, the country's military had conducted an airstrike near the Idlib province targeting a senior leader of al Qaeda.

Senior Al Qaeda leader Salim Abu-Ahmad killed in US strike in Syria

Pentagon said that a drone strike hit a vehicle in north-western Syria&nbsp;killing a senior<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/cia-says-al-qaeda-is-regrouping-post-taliban-takeover-in-afghanistan-report-413469"> Al Qaeda</a> leader. The north-western region of Syria is largely rebel-controlled.

The airstrike was conducted near Idlib. There are no initial indications of civilian casualties.

"A&nbsp;strike near Idlib, Syria&nbsp;on a senior Al Qaeda leader. The&nbsp;initial indications are that they struck the individual that they were targeting and that they don't have any indications at this time of civilian casualties. But they continue to look into that&nbsp;of course," John Kirby Pentagon spokesman said.

Watch:

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/20-years-after-911-will-al-qaeda-rise-again-411763/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

US&nbsp;has carried out attacks in Idlib before&nbsp;targeting <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/terrorist-vs-terrorist-al-qaeda-leader-zawahiri-claims-credit-for-911-islamic-state-asks-if-he-is-still-alive-412505">Al Qaeda</a> terrorists&nbsp;and the slain leader of the Islamic State Group, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, who was hiding in the province after fleeing from eastern Syria.

Large parts of Idlib remain in the hands of the Syrian-armed opposition which is&nbsp;dominated by radical groups including the Hayat Tahrir al-sham.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/exclusive-brother-of-afghan-killed-in-us-drone-strike-demands-compensation-thanks-wion-414114">Exclusive: Brother of Afghan killed in US drone strike demands compensation</a>

The latest US&nbsp;strike comes just days after the US. admitted killing civilians instead of terrorists in a drone strike in Afghanistan.&nbsp;The strike had killed ten&nbsp;civilians including children. It was carried out during the final days of the US&nbsp;troop pull-out from Afghanistan last month.

The drone strike was meant to hit a suspected ISIS-K&nbsp;operation. The terror group had carried out a suicide attack on Kabul airport on August 26.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/afghanistan-top-us-general-warns-of-civil-war-says-al-qaeda-isis-may-grow-410913">Also Read:&nbsp;Top US General warns of civil war, says al Qaeda, ISIS may grow</a>

Pentagon spokesman John Kirby added&nbsp;that defence secretary Lloyd Austin has directed the secretary of the Air Force&nbsp;to appoint a senior officer to handle the review of the ill-fated airstrike.

"Part of that review will be to examine the investigation itself, the thoroughness of the investigation, to study the degree to which any policies, procedures or targeting mechanisms may need to be altered going forward," Kirby said.

The Pentagon spokesman said the review is expected to take 45 days.

(With inputs from Agencies)

Pentagon said that a drone strike hit a vehicle in north-western Syria killing a senior Al Qaeda leader. The north-western region of Syria is largely rebel-controlled.

Pentagon said that a drone strike hit a vehicle in north-western Syria killing a senior Al Qaeda leader. The north-western region of Syria is largely rebel-controlled. The airstrike was conducted near Idlib. There are no initial indications of civilian casualties. "A strike near Idlib, Syria on a senior Al Qaeda leader. The initial indications are that they struck the individual that they were targeting and that they don't have any indications at this time of civilian casualties. But they continue to look into that of course," John Kirby Pentagon spokesman said. Watch: US has carried out attacks in Idlib before targeting Al Qaeda terrorists and the slain leader of the Islamic State Group, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, who was hiding in the province after fleeing from eastern Syria. Large parts of Idlib remain in the hands of the Syrian-armed opposition which is dominated by radical groups including the Hayat Tahrir al-sham. Exclusive: Brother of Afghan killed in US drone strike demands compensation The latest US strike comes just days after the US. admitted killing civilians instead of terrorists in a drone strike in Afghanistan. The strike had killed ten civilians including children. It was carried out during the final days of the US troop pull-out from Afghanistan last month. The drone strike was meant to hit a suspected ISIS-K operation. The terror group had carried out a suicide attack on Kabul airport on August 26. Also Read: Top US General warns of civil war, says al Qaeda, ISIS may grow Pentagon spokesman John Kirby added that defence secretary Lloyd Austin has directed the secretary of the Air Force to appoint a senior officer to handle the review of the ill-fated airstrike. "Part of that review will be to examine the investigation itself, the thoroughness of the investigation, to study the degree to which any policies, procedures or targeting mechanisms may need to be altered going forward," Kirby said. The Pentagon spokesman said the review is expected to take 45 days. (With inputs from Agencies)

Senior Al Qaeda leader killed in drone strike in Syria: US

United States' Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Deputy Director David Cohen said on Wednesday (local time) that there were early signs of Al Qaeda regrouping in Taliban ruled Afghanistan, says a report by intelnews.org

However, he added that CIA was already working to develop "methods to work within the horizon". Cohen reportedly referred to current intelligence reports of the CIA. He was speaking at Intelligence and National Security Summit in Washington DC. During his address, he reportedly acknowledged that shuttering of the United States embassy in Kabul, as well as the closure of a network of CIA stations across Afghanistan, had "diminished" the ability of American intelligence agencies to assess conditions on the ground

Cohen added that much of the intelligence that has been collected in recent weeks comes from "over-the-horizon platforms", meaning that the collection is taking place from countries that border Afghanistan.

At the moment, the United States intelligence community estimates that it could take Al Qaeda between one and two years to amass its former strike capability, so as to directly threaten American interests, reported Intelnews.org.The presence of Al Qaeda in Afghanistan was the primary reason behind the invasion of the country by the United States in 2001.

However, with the Taliban back in power in Afghanistan, there are concerns that Al Qaeda may make a comeback in the war-torn country.

Under the leadership of Osama bin Laden, Al Qaeda worked closely with the upper echelons of the Taliban in the 1990s and early 2000s. Contacts between the two groups continue to exist, and could potentially deepen following the exit of the United States and its Western allies from Afghanistan, reported Intelnews.org.

(With inputs from agencies)

United States' Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Deputy Director David Cohen said on Wednesday (local time) that there were early signs of Al Qaeda regrouping in Taliban ruled Afghanistan, says a report by intelnews.

United States' Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Deputy Director David Cohen said on Wednesday (local time) that there were early signs of Al Qaeda regrouping in Taliban ruled Afghanistan, says a report by intelnews.org However, he added that CIA was already working to develop "methods to work within the horizon". Cohen reportedly referred to current intelligence reports of the CIA. He was speaking at Intelligence and National Security Summit in Washington DC. During his address, he reportedly acknowledged that shuttering of the United States embassy in Kabul, as well as the closure of a network of CIA stations across Afghanistan, had "diminished" the ability of American intelligence agencies to assess conditions on the ground Cohen added that much of the intelligence that has been collected in recent weeks comes from "over-the-horizon platforms", meaning that the collection is taking place from countries that border Afghanistan. At the moment, the United States intelligence community estimates that it could take Al Qaeda between one and two years to amass its former strike capability, so as to directly threaten American interests, reported Intelnews.org.The presence of Al Qaeda in Afghanistan was the primary reason behind the invasion of the country by the United States in 2001. However, with the Taliban back in power in Afghanistan, there are concerns that Al Qaeda may make a comeback in the war-torn country. Under the leadership of Osama bin Laden, Al Qaeda worked closely with the upper echelons of the Taliban in the 1990s and early 2000s. Contacts between the two groups continue to exist, and could potentially deepen following the exit of the United States and its Western allies from Afghanistan, reported Intelnews.org. (With inputs from agencies)

CIA says Al Qaeda is regrouping post Taliban takeover in Afghanistan: Report

Terror group Al-Qaeda, released a video of its elusive leader Ayman al-Zawahiri, who was rumoured to be dead on the 20th anniversary of the deadly 9/11 attacks on US soil.

Al-Qaeda releases a new video of Zawahiri on 20th anniversary of 9/11 amid rumours he is dead

As the US marked the 20th anniversary of the 9/11, al Qaeda, which was behind the 2001 attacks, released a video of its leader Ayman al-Zawahiri on Telegram messaging app titled "Jerusalem will not be Judaised".

But Islamic State, the other terrorist group, is doubting the veracity of the video, challenging al Qaeda to prove that Zawahiri is still alive.

Part of the reason for that doubt is that Zawahiri did not mention the Taliban's recent takeover of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/hard-to-explain-to-anybody-biden-defends-us-pullout-from-afghanistan-on-911-anniversary-412447">Afghanistan</a>&nbsp;in the video message. He is shown praising the Al Qaeda terrorists killed last year. It referred to the Taliban just once, saying America is "broken and shattered", and returning from Afghanistan.

Zawahiri in the video said 19 Mujahideen fighters "wounded America's heart" referring to the 9/11 attackers. There were reports last year which claimed&nbsp;Zawahiri, 70, was likely dead in Afghanistan. However, there was no confirmation from Al Qaeda on Zawahiri's whereabouts or about the state of his health.

Watch:

<iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/afghanistan-taliban-flag-raised-in-kabul-on-911-anniversary-412499/embed" width="560"></iframe>

Telegram is reportedly deleting the propaganda video released by Al Qaeda. According to the US-based SITE Intelligence Group, Zawahiri also spoke about a raid on a Russian military base in the video. UN in a report last year had said Zawahiri was "probably alive but too frail to be featured in propaganda”.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/911-attacks-fbi-releases-newly-declassified-record-412485">Also Read: FBI releases newly declassified record on 9/11</a>

According to Rita Katz, director of SITE Intelligence Group, "Zawahiri doesn't mention Taliban's Afghanistan victory, and his talk of US "making its exit from Afghanistan" could have been said early as February 2020 upon Doha Agreement."

<blockquote>
17) Amid rumors of his death, al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri shown in new 60-minute video, this time offering some evidence that he is not dead--particularly, reference to events after December, when rumors of death surfaced. (A speech from March offered no such proof) <a href="https://t.co/IXpz6wIZvh">pic.twitter.com/IXpz6wIZvh</a>
— Rita Katz (@Rita_Katz) <a href="https://twitter.com/Rita_Katz/status/1436700395464712192?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 11, 2021</a></blockquote>

<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<a href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a>

"Thus, he could still be dead, though if so, would have been at some point in or after Jan 2021," &nbsp;Katz added. "The rumours of death had surfaced in December, she added.&nbsp;

<blockquote>
19) However, Zawahiri doesn't mention Taliban's Afghanistan victory, and his talk of US "making its exit from Afghanistan" could have been said early as Feb 2020 upon Doha Agreement. Thus, he could still be dead, though if so, would have been at some point in or after Jan 2021
— Rita Katz (@Rita_Katz) <a href="https://twitter.com/Rita_Katz/status/1436720497719382018?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 11, 2021</a></blockquote>

<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<a href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a>

"Also of note that the video uses clips from Taliban media, showing its fighters. Yet another signal of the importance of the Taliban in the global jihadist movement’s narrative since 9/11, and how the Taliban's victory in Afghanistan is also Al Qaeda's victory," the SITE Intelligence director added.

<blockquote>
13) Also of note that the video uses clips from Taliban media, showing its fighters. Yet another signal of the importance of the Taliban in the global jihadist movement’s narrative since 9/11, and how the Taliban's victory in Afghanistan is also al-Qaeda's victory <a href="https://t.co/uUiIixlrdu">pic.twitter.com/uUiIixlrdu</a>
— Rita Katz (@Rita_Katz) <a href="https://twitter.com/Rita_Katz/status/1436674091323428865?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 11, 2021</a></blockquote>

<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<a href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a>

Katz in the tweet said ISIS supporters and&nbsp;aligned groups are "spitefully calling 9/11 the “oxygen” that keeps Al Qaeda alive.

They challenged the group "to prove that Zawahiri is alive."

<blockquote>
21) ISIS supporters &amp; aligned groups, despite having less reason to celebrate today than al-Qaeda, capitalizing on 9/11 in their own way: spitefully calling 9/11 the “oxygen” that keeps al-Qaeda alive and challenge the group to prove that Zawahiri is alive <a href="https://t.co/QvDyFSA1R3">https://t.co/QvDyFSA1R3</a>
— Rita Katz (@Rita_Katz) <a href="https://twitter.com/Rita_Katz/status/1436726333250363392?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 11, 2021</a></blockquote>

<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<a href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a>

Zawahiri had also appeared in a video message during the anniversary of the 9/11 attacks last year.

He had succeeded Osama bin Laden after the al Qaeda chief was killed in a US raid at his hideout in Abbottabad, Pakistan, in May 2011.&nbsp;

Zawahiri had reportedly sworn allegiance to Taliban's Mullah Haibatullah Akhundzada.&nbsp;&nbsp;

However, the current video released by the terror organisation has further fueled questions on Zawahiri's current state and his location with no clear evidence about the authenticity of the video.

(With inputs from Agencies)&nbsp;&nbsp;

 
&nbsp;&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;

As the US marked the 20th anniversary of the 9/11, al Qaeda, which was behind the 2001 attacks, released a video of its leader Ayman al-Zawahiri on Telegram messaging app titled "Jerusalem will not be Judaised".

As the US marked the 20th anniversary of the 9/11, al Qaeda, which was behind the 2001 attacks, released a video of its leader Ayman al-Zawahiri on Telegram messaging app titled "Jerusalem will not be Judaised". But Islamic State, the other terrorist group, is doubting the veracity of the video, challenging al Qaeda to prove that Zawahiri is still alive. Part of the reason for that doubt is that Zawahiri did not mention the Taliban's recent takeover of Afghanistan in the video message. He is shown praising the Al Qaeda terrorists killed last year. It referred to the Taliban just once, saying America is "broken and shattered", and returning from Afghanistan. Zawahiri in the video said 19 Mujahideen fighters "wounded America's heart" referring to the 9/11 attackers. There were reports last year which claimed Zawahiri, 70, was likely dead in Afghanistan. However, there was no confirmation from Al Qaeda on Zawahiri's whereabouts or about the state of his health. Watch: Telegram is reportedly deleting the propaganda video released by Al Qaeda. According to the US-based SITE Intelligence Group, Zawahiri also spoke about a raid on a Russian military base in the video. UN in a report last year had said Zawahiri was "probably alive but too frail to be featured in propaganda”. Also Read: FBI releases newly declassified record on 9/11 According to Rita Katz, director of SITE Intelligence Group, "Zawahiri doesn't mention Taliban's Afghanistan victory, and his talk of US "making its exit from Afghanistan" could have been said early as February 2020 upon Doha Agreement." 17) Amid rumors of his death, al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri shown in new 60-minute video, this time offering some evidence that he is not dead--particularly, reference to events after December, when rumors of death surfaced. (A speech from March offered no such proof) pic.twitter.com/IXpz6wIZvh — Rita Katz (@Rita_Katz) September 11, 2021 × "Thus, he could still be dead, though if so, would have been at some point in or after Jan 2021," Katz added. "The rumours of death had surfaced in December, she added. 19) However, Zawahiri doesn't mention Taliban's Afghanistan victory, and his talk of US "making its exit from Afghanistan" could have been said early as Feb 2020 upon Doha Agreement. Thus, he could still be dead, though if so, would have been at some point in or after Jan 2021 — Rita Katz (@Rita_Katz) September 11, 2021 × "Also of note that the video uses clips from Taliban media, showing its fighters. Yet another signal of the importance of the Taliban in the global jihadist movement’s narrative since 9/11, and how the Taliban's victory in Afghanistan is also Al Qaeda's victory," the SITE Intelligence director added. 13) Also of note that the video uses clips from Taliban media, showing its fighters. Yet another signal of the importance of the Taliban in the global jihadist movement’s narrative since 9/11, and how the Taliban's victory in Afghanistan is also al-Qaeda's victory pic.twitter.com/uUiIixlrdu — Rita Katz (@Rita_Katz) September 11, 2021 × Katz in the tweet said ISIS supporters and aligned groups are "spitefully calling 9/11 the “oxygen” that keeps Al Qaeda alive. They challenged the group "to prove that Zawahiri is alive." 21) ISIS supporters & aligned groups, despite having less reason to celebrate today than al-Qaeda, capitalizing on 9/11 in their own way: spitefully calling 9/11 the “oxygen” that keeps al-Qaeda alive and challenge the group to prove that Zawahiri is alive https://t.co/QvDyFSA1R3 — Rita Katz (@Rita_Katz) September 11, 2021 × Zawahiri had also appeared in a video message during the anniversary of the 9/11 attacks last year. He had succeeded Osama bin Laden after the al Qaeda chief was killed in a US raid at his hideout in Abbottabad, Pakistan, in May 2011. Zawahiri had reportedly sworn allegiance to Taliban's Mullah Haibatullah Akhundzada. However, the current video released by the terror organisation has further fueled questions on Zawahiri's current state and his location with no clear evidence about the authenticity of the video. (With inputs from Agencies)

Terrorist vs terrorist: Al Qaeda leader Zawahiri claims credit for 9/11, Islamic State asks if he is still alive

In pics | A look back at the scenes from the 9/11 attacks

2 days before 9/11, Al-Qaeda assassinated The Lion of Panjshir, Ahmad Shah Massoud. Massoud had warned the West about an impending attack. Osama bin Laden ordered his men to kill the lion. Palki Sharma brings you the story of Ahmad Shah Massoud.

Gravitas: The story of Ahmad Shah Massoud

This week marks the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 terror attacks. It was the first time when many even heard of Al-Qaeda. The group is now congratulating the Taliban over Afghanistan takeover. Take a look at the Taliban's relationship with its long-time ally, Al-Qaeda.

20 years after 9/11, will Al-Qaeda rise again?

For more than two weeks after the twin towers collapsed on 9/11, hundreds of search and rescue dogs hunted for signs of life in the smouldering ruins.

Ricky, a 17-inch-tall rat terrier, was able to squeeze into tight spaces. Trakr, a German shepherd from Canada, combed the wreckage for two days — then collapsed from smoke inhalation, exhaustion and burns. Riley, a 4-year-old golden retriever, searched deep into the debris fields and helped locate the bodies of several firefighters.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/is-911-a-day-or-is-it-an-era-411151">Is 9/11 a day, or is it an Era?</a>

“We went there expecting to find hundreds of people trapped,” said Chris Selfridge, 54, of Johnstown, Pennsylvania, who was Riley’s handler. “But we didn’t find anybody alive.”

Though there were not many survivors to find amid the destruction, the devotion of the dogs to their work became an inspiring sight to emergency medical workers and to others who witnessed the urgent rescue effort. Now, as the 20th anniversary of the attacks approaches, those efforts are being memorialized in an exhibition opening Wednesday at the American Kennel Club’s Museum of the Dog.

Titled “9/11 Remembered: Search &amp; Rescue Dogs,” the exhibition also looks beyond the parameters of 9/11 to recognize dogs who worked at other disasters as well, not just in the United States, but around the world. The show will also include several pieces from the DOGNY project, an art initiative that features life-size sculptures of German shepherds. Roughly 100 of them were placed around New York after the attacks.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/how-911-changed-air-travel-more-security-less-privacy-411141">How 9/11 changed air travel: More security, less privacy</a>

“I hope this can be a little more uplifting,” Alan Fausel, the museum’s executive director, said. “We also showcase some of the brighter sides and positive outcomes: Rex of White Way rescued a whole train of people stuck in the Sierra Nevadas in the ’50s, and we’ll talk about St. Bernards such as Barry, a very famous St. Bernard in the St. Bernard hospice in Switzerland who rescued avalanche victims.”

The display follows up on an ongoing temporary exhibition at the 9/11 Memorial &amp; Museum in lower Manhattan, “K-9 Courage,” which opened in January 2020, but was hardly seen because of the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/coronavirus">pandemic</a>. That exhibit, which runs into spring 2022, features photographer Charlotte Dumas’ portraits of 15 of the dogs who aided in recovery efforts at ground zero, taken for the 10-year anniversary in 2011, alongside photos of them working in the wreckage.

“You look into their eyes in their old age and can, with the help of the documentary photographs, imagine what their eyes had seen,” Alice M. Greenwald, the chief executive and president of the museum, said. “But you also know that they’ve lived lives of service and surely, there is satisfaction in that — for dogs and human beings, alike.”

Some 2,753 people were killed when the terrorist group al-Qaida hijacked two planes and crashed them into the World Trade Center’s towers, causing them both to collapse in the span of 102 minutes.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/freedom-tower-the-skyscraper-symbolising-new-yorks-resilience-411055">'Freedom Tower' - the skyscraper symbolising New York's resilience</a>

As an acrid dust cloud enveloped lower Manhattan and a nation mourned, hundreds of search and rescue teams from around the country descended on ground zero to join the search for survivors, with the first dogs, from the NYPD’s K-9 urban search and rescue team, arriving at the South Tower just 15 minutes after its collapse.

The teams worked 12-hour days for an average of 10 days straight.

The New York Police Department has reported that though survivors were found in the rubble, none of those was the direct result of a dog’s discovery. Several people, though, have credited Trackr, a retired police dog, with having played a role in one rescue. His handler, a Canadian policeman who drove down from Nova Scotia, was suspended from his job for leaving without permission when his department saw him on television aiding the rescue efforts. (Jane Goodall later presented him with a humanitarian service award).

Dr. Cynthia Otto, the director of the Penn Vet Working Dog Center in Philadelphia who looked after the dogs at ground zero, said the that, for the most part,&nbsp;the dogs’ injuries were only “very minor” — cuts and scrapes on their paw pads, legs and bellies, mainly, as well as fatigue and heat exhaustion. The bigger challenge, she said, was the frustration of searching for hours and not finding anyone. When the dogs began to get discouraged and lose their motivation to search, handlers had to stage “mock finds” so the dogs could feel successful.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/twenty-years-on-pandemic-gives-911-conspiracists-fresh-impetus-411061">Twenty years on, pandemic gives 9/11 conspiracists fresh impetus</a>

“When they train, they don’t search for hours without finding anybody,” she said in a recent phone conversation. “You need to remind the dogs every so often that they do get to win.”

Bretagne (pronounced Brittany), a golden retriever who was then 2 years old, arrived the week after the attacks and spent 10 days searching for survivors. She slept in a kennel at the Javits Center alongside her handler, Denise Corliss, an electrical engineer from Texas who had traveled to the city with Texas Task Force 1, one of the 28 teams that form the FEMA National Urban Search and Rescue System.

Corliss, 56, said Bretagne, who died in 2016, was the last known living service dog to have been employed by FEMA at ground zero. She brought comfort to rescuers and firefighters, who would approach the dog and pet her. Soon, they’d open up to Corliss, sharing personal stories of the missing friends and colleagues they were searching for.

“A gentleman came up and started petting Bretagne and said, ‘You know, I don’t really like dogs,’” she said. “Which was a surprising statement considering he was kneeling down to pet her. I said ‘Oh?’ And he goes, ‘Yeah, my best friend loved dogs; he had a golden retriever himself. My best friend is somewhere out there,’ and he pointed to the pile. It was a tie back to his missing friend.”

And that, Fausel said, is what the Museum of the Dog hopes to capture in its new exhibition.

“The search and rescue dogs didn’t rescue any people from the pile,” he said. “But I think they somewhat rescued the people who were searching.”

For more than two weeks after the twin towers collapsed on 9/11, hundreds of search and rescue dogs hunted for signs of life in the smouldering ruins. Ricky, a 17-inch-tall rat terrier, was able to squeeze into tight spaces.

For more than two weeks after the twin towers collapsed on 9/11, hundreds of search and rescue dogs hunted for signs of life in the smouldering ruins. Ricky, a 17-inch-tall rat terrier, was able to squeeze into tight spaces. Trakr, a German shepherd from Canada, combed the wreckage for two days — then collapsed from smoke inhalation, exhaustion and burns. Riley, a 4-year-old golden retriever, searched deep into the debris fields and helped locate the bodies of several firefighters. Also read | Is 9/11 a day, or is it an Era? “We went there expecting to find hundreds of people trapped,” said Chris Selfridge, 54, of Johnstown, Pennsylvania, who was Riley’s handler. “But we didn’t find anybody alive.” Though there were not many survivors to find amid the destruction, the devotion of the dogs to their work became an inspiring sight to emergency medical workers and to others who witnessed the urgent rescue effort. Now, as the 20th anniversary of the attacks approaches, those efforts are being memorialized in an exhibition opening Wednesday at the American Kennel Club’s Museum of the Dog. Titled “9/11 Remembered: Search & Rescue Dogs,” the exhibition also looks beyond the parameters of 9/11 to recognize dogs who worked at other disasters as well, not just in the United States, but around the world. The show will also include several pieces from the DOGNY project, an art initiative that features life-size sculptures of German shepherds. Roughly 100 of them were placed around New York after the attacks. Also read | How 9/11 changed air travel: More security, less privacy “I hope this can be a little more uplifting,” Alan Fausel, the museum’s executive director, said. “We also showcase some of the brighter sides and positive outcomes: Rex of White Way rescued a whole train of people stuck in the Sierra Nevadas in the ’50s, and we’ll talk about St. Bernards such as Barry, a very famous St. Bernard in the St. Bernard hospice in Switzerland who rescued avalanche victims.” The display follows up on an ongoing temporary exhibition at the 9/11 Memorial & Museum in lower Manhattan, “K-9 Courage,” which opened in January 2020, but was hardly seen because of the pandemic. That exhibit, which runs into spring 2022, features photographer Charlotte Dumas’ portraits of 15 of the dogs who aided in recovery efforts at ground zero, taken for the 10-year anniversary in 2011, alongside photos of them working in the wreckage. “You look into their eyes in their old age and can, with the help of the documentary photographs, imagine what their eyes had seen,” Alice M. Greenwald, the chief executive and president of the museum, said. “But you also know that they’ve lived lives of service and surely, there is satisfaction in that — for dogs and human beings, alike.” Some 2,753 people were killed when the terrorist group al-Qaida hijacked two planes and crashed them into the World Trade Center’s towers, causing them both to collapse in the span of 102 minutes. Also read | 'Freedom Tower' - the skyscraper symbolising New York's resilience As an acrid dust cloud enveloped lower Manhattan and a nation mourned, hundreds of search and rescue teams from around the country descended on ground zero to join the search for survivors, with the first dogs, from the NYPD’s K-9 urban search and rescue team, arriving at the South Tower just 15 minutes after its collapse. The teams worked 12-hour days for an average of 10 days straight. The New York Police Department has reported that though survivors were found in the rubble, none of those was the direct result of a dog’s discovery. Several people, though, have credited Trackr, a retired police dog, with having played a role in one rescue. His handler, a Canadian policeman who drove down from Nova Scotia, was suspended from his job for leaving without permission when his department saw him on television aiding the rescue efforts. (Jane Goodall later presented him with a humanitarian service award). Dr. Cynthia Otto, the director of the Penn Vet Working Dog Center in Philadelphia who looked after the dogs at ground zero, said the that, for the most part, the dogs’ injuries were only “very minor” — cuts and scrapes on their paw pads, legs and bellies, mainly, as well as fatigue and heat exhaustion. The bigger challenge, she said, was the frustration of searching for hours and not finding anyone. When the dogs began to get discouraged and lose their motivation to search, handlers had to stage “mock finds” so the dogs could feel successful. Also read | Twenty years on, pandemic gives 9/11 conspiracists fresh impetus “When they train, they don’t search for hours without finding anybody,” she said in a recent phone conversation. “You need to remind the dogs every so often that they do get to win.” Bretagne (pronounced Brittany), a golden retriever who was then 2 years old, arrived the week after the attacks and spent 10 days searching for survivors. She slept in a kennel at the Javits Center alongside her handler, Denise Corliss, an electrical engineer from Texas who had traveled to the city with Texas Task Force 1, one of the 28 teams that form the FEMA National Urban Search and Rescue System. Corliss, 56, said Bretagne, who died in 2016, was the last known living service dog to have been employed by FEMA at ground zero. She brought comfort to rescuers and firefighters, who would approach the dog and pet her. Soon, they’d open up to Corliss, sharing personal stories of the missing friends and colleagues they were searching for. “A gentleman came up and started petting Bretagne and said, ‘You know, I don’t really like dogs,’” she said. “Which was a surprising statement considering he was kneeling down to pet her. I said ‘Oh?’ And he goes, ‘Yeah, my best friend loved dogs; he had a golden retriever himself. My best friend is somewhere out there,’ and he pointed to the pile. It was a tie back to his missing friend.” And that, Fausel said, is what the Museum of the Dog hopes to capture in its new exhibition. “The search and rescue dogs didn’t rescue any people from the pile,” he said. “But I think they somewhat rescued the people who were searching.”

The dogs of 9/11: Their failed searches for life helped sustain it

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