Al qaeda

Al Qaeda is a militant Islamist organization founded by Osama bin Laden and several other militants in the late 1980s. The organization's name translates to "The Base" in English. Al Qaeda is known for its involvement in several high-profile terrorist attacks, including the September 11 attacks on the United States in 2001.

History[edit | edit source]

Al Qaeda was established in Peshawar, Pakistan, during the Soviet–Afghan War. Its founders were Arab volunteers who had gone to Afghanistan in the 1980s to fight the Soviet Union. The organization's primary goal was to establish a pan-Islamic caliphate throughout the world by working with allied Islamic extremist groups to overthrow regimes it deemed "non-Islamic" and expelling Westerners and non-Muslims from Muslim countries.

Ideology[edit | edit source]

Al Qaeda's ideology is based on a radical interpretation of Islam. The group views itself as a defender of Muslims who are oppressed by the West and by governments it considers apostate. It promotes a strict interpretation of Sharia law and aims to establish a caliphate governed by these laws.

Activities[edit | edit source]

Al Qaeda is best known for its role in the September 11 attacks, which resulted in the deaths of nearly 3,000 people. The group has also been involved in numerous other terrorist attacks around the world, including the 1998 United States embassy bombings in East Africa, the 2000 USS Cole bombing, and multiple attacks in Europe and the Middle East.

Structure[edit | edit source]

Al Qaeda operates as a network comprising both a multinational, stateless army and a radical Sunni Muslim movement. Its structure is hierarchical, with a central leadership core and various regional affiliates, such as Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula and Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb.

Response[edit | edit source]

In response to Al Qaeda's activities, the United States launched the War on Terror, which included the invasion of Afghanistan to dismantle the organization. Al Qaeda has been designated as a terrorist group by the United Nations, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, the European Union, and various countries.