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'''Al-Qaeda''' ([[Arabic]]: القاعدة‎, Translation: ''the base'') is an international Islamic [[Jihadism|Jihadist]] [[terrorism|terrorist]] organization founded in 1988, in the city of Peshawar, Pakistan.  It originally consisted mainly of members of the Egyptian Islamic Jihad led by Saudi Arabian millionaire and heir of the bin Laden engineering firm, [[Osama bin Laden]].  The family engineering firm had rebuilt and modernized the Grand Mosque at [[Mecca]].

'''Al-Qaeda''' ([[Arabic]]: القاعدة‎, Translation: ''the base'') is an international Islamic [[Jihadism|Jihadist]] [[terrorism|terrorist]] organization founded in 1988, in the city of Peshawar, Pakistan.  It originally consisted mainly of members of the Egyptian Islamic Jihad led by Saudi Arabian millionaire and heir of the bin Laden engineering firm, [[Osama bin Laden]].  The family engineering firm had rebuilt and modernized the Grand Mosque at [[Mecca]].

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 during the [[Soviet-Afghan war]],<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''. It Bin Laden 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.

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 during the [[Soviet-Afghan war]],<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''. Bin Laden was living under house arrest in [[Pakistan]] for nearly 10 years until he was killed on orders from President [[Barack Obama]] before the [[2012 presidential election]].  

 

Al Qaeda was predominantly composed of fanatical [[Salafi]] [[Muslim]]s. [[Ayman al-Zawahiri]], former leader of the [[Egypt]]ian terrorist group called the [[Muslim Brotherhood|Islamic Brotherhood]], assumed leadership after Bin Laden's assassination.  

 

In 2012, the [[Obama administration]] became allied with the group, providing weapons to kick-start the [[Syrian Civil War]] and founding of the [[Islamic State of Iraq and Syria]], a rebirth of the Islamic [[Caliphate]] which disappeared after the [[First World War]].

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>