How al-Qaeda Ended

Live updates

1. 2d ago

   Hamza bin Laden Video Surfaces on 25th Anniversary of 9/11

   A video featuring a man identified as Hamza bin Laden, son of al-Qaeda founder Osama bin Laden, is circulating on social media to mark the 25th anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks. The speaker emphasizes continuing global jihad, claiming that Islam faces an all-out war from enemies and that jihad is expanding. Separately, commentators note that twenty-five years of invasions and unconditional support for Israel have deepened the grievances behind 9/11, leaving America less secure. The appearance comes as global security assessments indicate al-Qaeda remains active within a resilient jihadi movement despite past strategic deprioritization.

   Why it matters

   The resurgence of al-Qaeda messaging underscores how long-term geopolitical conflicts continue to fuel extremist propaganda. Two and a half decades after the attacks that swept the United States into a prolonged conflict, the ideological descendants of the network still attempt to rally recruits against Washington, London, and Tel Aviv. This modern digital presence tests the efficacy of counter-terrorism monitoring as the global geography of terrorism shifts away from early-2000s central structures.

   What is confirmed

   • A video circulating on social media features a man identified as Hamza bin Laden delivering a speech for the 25th anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks.
   • In the video, the speaker emphasizes continuing the path of Osama bin Laden and global jihad.
   • Al-Qaeda claims in the video that jihad is expanding and terrifying enemies in Washington, London, and Tel Aviv.

   What to watch next

   • Verification of the authenticity and recording date of the Hamza bin Laden video by intelligence agencies.
   • Further al-Qaeda media releases marking the 25th anniversary period.
   Sources used for this update (5)

   1. www.middleeasteye.net — I watched the twin towers burn. Now the US is repeating its worst mistakes in Iran
   2. www.oneidadispatch.com — ‘It was surreal’: Griffo recounts being in Manhattan on Sept. 11, 2001
   3. www.inquirer.com — As fears of AI catastrophe magnify, Washington stirs, but mostly slumbers
   4. kabulnow.com — The Image of Hamza bin Laden
   5. www.somaliguardian.com — Somalia: Mogadishu could fall without AU troops, says ex-minister
   confidence 90%
2. 4d ago

   Al-Qaeda Remains Active but Weakened 25 Years After 9/11

   Al-Qaeda is currently weaker than at its peak but remains an active threat, particularly in Afghanistan. While the organization's global network has shifted and its overall influence has diminished, it continues to operate as part of a broader, resilient global jihadi movement. Recent assessments indicate that while the group is strategically deprioritized, it maintains internal resilience. The geography of global terrorism is shifting, moving away from the centralized structure of the early 2000s toward new epicenters of activity.

   Why it matters

   The group rose to global prominence following the September 11, 2001 attacks, leading to a prolonged US-led War on Terror. This conflict reshaped Western domestic policies and global geopolitics. The transition from a centralized entity to a fragmented network marks the current phase of the movement.

   What is confirmed

   • Al-Qaeda remains active in Afghanistan 25 years after the September 11 attacks.
   • The global jihadi movement has shifted its network and geography over the last 25 years.
   • Al-Qaeda is currently weaker than it was in the past.

   Still unconfirmed

   • Global jihadism is currently internally resilient but strategically deprioritized.

   What to watch next

   • Evidence of new centralized leadership within al-Qaeda
   • Reports on the specific location of the new epicenter of global terrorism
   Sources used for this update (21)

   1. The Soufan Center — 25 Years After 9/11: The Future Of The Global Jihadi Movement
   2. foreignaffairs.com — How al-Qaeda Ended
   3. gzeromedia.com — Graphic Truth: The global geography of terrorism is shifting
   4. Newsweek — US Threatened by New ‘Epicenter of Global Terrorism’ 25 Years After 9/11
   5. RealClearDefense — The Rise and Fall of Global Jihadism
   6. Khaama Press — 25 Years After 9/11, Al-Qaeda Remains Active in Afghanistan as Global Network Shifts, Report Says
   7. Yahoo — The global geography of terrorism is shifting
   8. MEMRI | Middle East Media Research Institute — 25 Years Later: Al-Qaeda Is Weaker But Islamic Supremacists Are Alive And Kicking
   9. The Diplomat – Asia-Pacific Current Affairs Magazine — Al-Qaida: 25 Years After 9/11
   10. realinstitutoelcano.org — 12th Elcano Forum on Global Terrorism: ‘The jihadist threat 25 years after 9/11 and other trends in violent extremism’
   11. The Washington Institute — The Fate of Global Jihadism Today: Internally Resilient, Strategically Deprioritized
   12. Yahoo — Explainer-What's happened to al Qaeda in the 25 years since 9/11?
   confidence 90%