- “Mekhtab al khidemat” (the “Services Office”) offshoot.
- Emerged from Afghanistan’s anti-USSR Mujahideen movement.
- Osama Bin Laden + Muhammad Atef + Abu Ubaidah al Banshiri | co-founders.
- Before 9/11| was Afghanistan based | with bases in Pakistan, Sudan, and other countries.
- Currently, Afghanistan and Pakistan based.
- Enemies | The US | Israel | The UN | Saudi Arabia (Govt) | Egypt (Govt).
- Jihad | against the US | the infidel country.
- For US military involvement in Gulf War and Somalia’s 1992/1993 jihad, or holy war, against the United States.
- US forces in Saudi Arabian Peninsula.
- 4th decades of existence.
- Salafist jihad | extremist interpretation of Islam.
- For | Shariah-based Islamic governments.
- No | foreign influence in the Islamic countries.
- Branches/affiliations/franchisees are over the world.
- 70 Al Qaeda related active organizations in the world.