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[[Image:al_qaeda.jpg|right|thumb|250px|Osama bin Laden with Al-Qaeda members]]

[[Image:al_qaeda.jpg|right|thumb|250px|Osama bin Laden with Al-Qaeda members]]

'''Al-Qaeda''' ([[Arabic]]: القاعدة‎, Translation: ''the base'') is an international [[Jihadism|Jihadist]] [[terrorism|terrorist]] organization founded in the late 1980s to fight the [[Red Army]] of the [[Soviet Union]] in [[Afghanistan]], during the 1980–89 Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan. According to the 9/11 Commission Report, Osama bin Bin Ladin and his comrades had their own sources of support and training, and they received little or no assistance from the United States,<ref>9/11 Commission Report, [http://www.gpoaccess.gov/911/pdf/sec2.pdf ''The Foundation of the New Terrorism''], pg. 56.</ref> which only provided funding to indigenous Afghan ''mujaheddin'', which al-Qaeda was not. It was led by [[Osama Bin Laden]] until he was killed by Navy SEALs and CIA operatives on May 2, 2011. It is predominantly composed of fanatical [[Sunni]] [[Islam|Muslim]]s. [[Ayman al-Zawahiri]], former leader of the [[Egypt]]ian terrorist group called the [[Muslim Brotherhood|Islamic Brotherhood]], now leads Al Qaeda since Bin Laden's death. Zawahiri has increasingly become the spokesperson for the terrorist network.

'''Al-Qaeda''' ([[Arabic]]: القاعدة‎, Translation: ''the base'') is an international [[Jihadism|Jihadist]] [[terrorism|terrorist]] organization founded in the late 1980s to fight the [[Red Army]] of the [[Soviet Union]] in [[Afghanistan]], during the 1980–89 Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan. According to the 9/11 Commission Report, Osama bin Bin Ladin and his comrades had their own sources of support and training, and they received little or no assistance from the United States,<ref>9/11 Commission Report, [http://www.gpoaccess.gov/911/pdf/sec2.pdf ''The Foundation of the New Terrorism''], pg. 56.</ref><ref>In his memoir, Ayman al-Zawahiri contemptuously rejects the claim that the Arab mujahideen were financed (even “one penny”) or trained by the United States. See Zawahiri, “Knights Under the Prophet’s Banner,” Al Sharq al Awsat, Dec. 2, 2001. CIA officials involved in aiding the Afghan resistance regard Bin Ladin and his “Arab Afghans” as having been militarily insignificant in the war and recall having little to do with him. Gary Schroen interview (Mar. 3, 2003).</ref> which only provided funding to indigenous Afghan ''mujaheddin'', which al-Qaeda was not. It was led by [[Osama Bin Laden]] until he was killed by Navy SEALs and CIA operatives on May 2, 2011. It is predominantly composed of fanatical [[Sunni]] [[Islam|Muslim]]s. [[Ayman al-Zawahiri]], former leader of the [[Egypt]]ian terrorist group called the [[Muslim Brotherhood|Islamic Brotherhood]], now leads Al Qaeda since Bin Laden's death. Zawahiri has increasingly become the spokesperson for the terrorist network.

By 2018, Al Qaeda remained a major global terror threat.<ref>Mora, Edwin (October 6, 2018). [https://www.breitbart.com/national-security/2018/10/06/al-qaeda-remains-top-global-jihadi-threat-17th-anniversary-afghan-war/ Al-Qaeda Remains Top Global Jihadi Threat on 17th Anniversary of Afghan War]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved October 6, 2018.</ref>

By 2018, Al Qaeda remained a major global terror threat.<ref>Mora, Edwin (October 6, 2018). [https://www.breitbart.com/national-security/2018/10/06/al-qaeda-remains-top-global-jihadi-threat-17th-anniversary-afghan-war/ Al-Qaeda Remains Top Global Jihadi Threat on 17th Anniversary of Afghan War]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved October 6, 2018.</ref>