The Faces of Al Qaeda - Security Degree Hub

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Al Qaeda Today: Who’s Who and Trends

Changing Faces:

Bin Laden, a household name since 2001, was killed on May 2, 2011.
In 2012:

%16 drop in successful attacks
%65 drop in successful attacks outside of Africa
%35 less casualties caused by the Al Qaeda network
0 successful attacks on U.S. soil
22 high ranking Al Qaeda leaders captured or killed

Coupled with the U.S. presence in Iraq and Afghanistan—
Al Qaeda has had to change its tactics.

Featured Programs

Self-radicalization
Under Bin Laden = a centralized hierarchy to fight non-believers and the west.
Now, Social media and publications (like the English magazine Inspire )
teach readers how to make bombs in their kitchen
and inculcate hate
which leads to decentralized, but informed small cells.

The U.S. occupation of Iraq and Afghanistan has given rise to the myth that the US wants to conquer the Arab world.

Loosely connected affiliate groups acting on behalf of al Qaeda

And their locale

Training bases
Afghanistan
Algeria
Bosnia
Chechnya
Eritrea
Kosovo
the Phillipines
Somalia
Tajikistan
Yemen
Kosovo

New branches

Al Qaeda of the Arabian Peninsula
Saudi Arabia
and Yemen
and Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb
Northern Africa

And Cells have been broken up in

United Kingdom
United States
Italy
France
Spain
Germany
Albania
Uganda
and elsewhere

But even on the run, Al Qaeda has an estimated operating budget of $30 million a year.
Used for recruiting, training, and executing attacks.

Just last year:

[country, number of attacks, number of killed]

Philippines—22—15
India—1—15
Pakistan—81—470
Afghanistan—2—61
Iraq—66—463
Syria—1—54
Yemen—27—50
Somalia—341—600
Kenya—28—28
Nigeria—1—0
Algeria—1—2
Mali—3—4
Mauritania—1—0

The Faces of Leadership

~~Osama bin Laden~~

Inherited $10’s millions of dollars from the Bin Laden Construction empire
Joined the mujahideen fighters against the Soviets in Pakistan and Afghanistan after college
Formed Al Qaeda in 1968, was forced from Egypt, then Sudan where he held bases.
Established base of operations in Afghanistan in 1996, declared war on the U.S.
Gained popularity with Arabs by funneling money into Arab causes
Barely survived a US attack in 1998 in which 66 cruise missiles were launched at his training camp from US ships in the Arabian Sea.
Coordinated many attacks
Killed in a private residential compound in Northern Pakistan in May, 2011

Ayman Al-Zawahiri

New leader of Al Qaeda after Bin Laden’s death
A former eye surgeon
Second most wanted terrorist in the world in 2001 with a $25 million bounty on his head
Wife and children killed in US airstrike
Fights against the “crusader America and its servant Israel, and whoever supports them.”

Abu Yahya al-Libi

Al Qaeda’s leading theologian
Field Commander of Afghanistan
Speaks on a variety of topics of global importance, perhaps the most visible face of Al Qaeda
Captured by Pakistani forces in 2002, shipped to a US Airbase from which he escaped 3 years later.

Khalid al-Habib

Chief Military Commander according to a 2008 interview
Only identified once back in 2005
Operates under many false identities
said by US intelligence to handle “internal” operations in Afghanistan and Pakistan

Adnan el Shukrijumah

Chief of the “external operations council.”
Lived in Florida and Brooklyn
One of the first Al Qaeda leaders to have an intimate knowledge of American culture
Indicted in the U.S. for the planned subway bombing of 2009
Also suspected of playing roles in attacks in Panama, Norway, and the UK
Regular contact with Al Qaeda leadership and field commanders makes him likelier to get captured.

Saif al-Adel

Once an Egyptian Military Colonel known as Muhamad Ibrahim Makkawi
Suspected involvement in the 1998 US Embassy Bombings in East Africa
Training Somali fighters that killed 18 US Servicemen in Somalia in 1993
And instructing 9/11 bombers
Arrested in March 2013 and extradited to the US
Some reports believe he was released and has made his way back to Northern Pakistan

Adam Gadanh, or “Azzam the American”

High profile propagandist appearing in many videos
Born in California, converted to Islam as a teenager
Moved to Pakistan in 1998 to join the cause
First American to be charged with Treason since WWII
Translates for Al Qaeda, operates propaganda
$1 million bounty on his head
Not a senior leader

Midhat Mursi

An Egyptian Chemist
Part of Al Qaeda’s initiative to develop chemical and biological weapons
Trains recruits in bomb making techniques.
Last believed to be in Pakistan or escaped to the Caucasus region

Nasser Abdul Karim al-Wuhayshi

Leader of Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), a merger between the Saudi Arabian and Yemeni branches of Al Qaeda.
Worked in religious institutions before joining the cause in the late 90’s
Arrested in 2001 in Iran, extradited to Yemen
Escaped from Yemani prison with 22 other Al Qaeda members in 2006
Responsible for:
USS Cole bombing
Bombing that killed 10 Yemeni guards and 6 western tourists in 2008
Attempted bombing of US passenger jet entering Detroit in 2009
Failed attack of Saudi Arabian security chief in 2009

Abou Mossab Abdelwadoud

Leader of Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb
Leader of the Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat
Aiming to turn Algeria into an Islamic state.
Killed 33 and 37 in Algiers with car bombs in 2007
Newly broadened activity throughout North Africa
Aims to:
Attack western targets
Send Jihadis to Iraq
Kidnap, ransom, and kill westerners in North Africa

After the death of bin Laden, and the U.S. occupation of Afghanistan and Iraq, Al Qaeda entered a transitional phase in which new leaders emerged, presence in new locales was established, and decentralized, but well informed fighters continue their war against the west.

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