Al Qaeeda | Al Zawahiri Al Qaeda leader Al-Zawahiri,rumored dead, appears in 9/11 anniversary video: Report
Twenty years after the 9/11 attack on the US, Osama bin Laden's successor in Al Qaeda Ayman al-Zawahiri, rumored dead, surfaced in a video released on the 9/11 anniversary.
US-based SITE Intelligence Group, which tracks and analyses the online activity of jihadist groups, reported that Zawahiri spoke on a number of issues in the video, released to mark the 9/11 attacks by the Al Qaeda.
Rita Katz, SITE's Director tweeted, "Amid rumours of his death, Al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri shown in a new 60-minute video, this time offering some evidence that he is not dead--particularly, reference to events after December when rumours of death surfaced."
17) Amid rumors of his death, al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri shown in new 60-minute video, this time offering some evidence that he is not dead--particularly, reference to events after December, when rumors of death surfaced. (A speech from March offered no such proof) pic.twitter.com/IXpz6wIZvh
— Rita Katz (@Rita_Katz) September 11, 2021
According to the report, the video introduced him with "May Allah Protect Him". He referenced the raid on a Russian military base by the Al-Qaeda-aligned Hurras al-Deen in Syria, which it claimed on Jan 1 (after rumors/reporting of his death surfaced in Nov).
18) Event Zawahiri referenced was a raid on a Russian military base by the al-Qaeda-aligned Hurras al-Deen in Syria, which it claimed on Jan 1 (after rumors/reporting of his death surfaced in Nov). Also introduces Zawahiri with "May Allah Protect Him." https://t.co/Jp2ijuHECU
— Rita Katz (@Rita_Katz) September 11, 2021
Zawihiri's talk of US "making its exit from Afghanistan" could have been said early as Feb 2020 upon Doha Agreement, she pointed out in another tweet, adding that " he could still be dead, though if so, would have been at some point in or after Jan 2021."
19) However, Zawahiri doesn't mention Taliban's Afghanistan victory, and his talk of US "making its exit from Afghanistan" could have been said early as Feb 2020 upon Doha Agreement. Thus, he could still be dead, though if so, would have been at some point in or after Jan 2021
— Rita Katz (@Rita_Katz) September 11, 2021
She noted that the intelligence agencies are yet to provide proof that Zawahiri is dead and his current status remains unknown.
20) Nonetheless, intelligence agencies have, as of yet, offered no proof or solid assessments that Zawahiri is dead, leaving the question of his current status in the air.
— Rita Katz (@Rita_Katz) September 11, 2021
21) ISIS supporters & aligned groups, despite having less reason to celebrate today than al-Qaeda, capitalizing on 9/11 in their own way: spitefully calling 9/11 the “oxygen” that keeps al-Qaeda alive and challenge the group to prove that Zawahiri is alive https://t.co/QvDyFSA1R3
— Rita Katz (@Rita_Katz) September 11, 2021
22) As the AQ community continues to flood channels and hype up Zawahiri speech, their incitements remind one that AQ remains intent as ever to harm America. One pro-AQ magazine released today incites for more attacks with aircraft: "Are we not able to repeat it?" pic.twitter.com/BiypVvZVQw
— Rita Katz (@Rita_Katz) September 11, 2021
Katz tweets that pro-Al Qaeda media groups are outpouring with 9/11 celebrations and incitements: posters, videos, hashtags, etc. It is a very organized and thoroughly prepped campaign--nothing like what I've seen in previous years.
14) This pro-AQ campaign has been nonstop since 6am, showing the same intensity of ISIS’ social media campaigns of previous years. Entire channels, groups, bots, members are dedicated to 9/11 right now, with all groups pumping out content, despite severe deletion camp by Telegram pic.twitter.com/OOhKEs264i
— Rita Katz (@Rita_Katz) September 11, 2021
Moreover, Al Qaeda official media wing as-Sahab announced a new forthcoming release, which seems to be a video, expected to be released on September 11.
This followed a release of a book by Zawahiri. As-Sahab releases part one of a book series by him with an introduction dated April 2021. The 852-page installment gives dedication to killed operatives.
While the Taliban who have taken over Afghanistan may be donning a friendly face for Western audiences, their intrinsic bonds with Al-Qaeda persists. Al Qaeda has made it clear that for them, the new Islamic Emirate is a victory and they're beneficiaries of the spoils.
Zawahiri succeeded Osama Bin Laden as the chief of the group after Laden was hunted down by US SEAL forces in Jalalabad in Pakistan.
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