🔹 Overview
Al-Qaeda is a Sunni Islamist militant organization founded in the late 1980s by Osama bin Laden, along with Abdullah Azzam and others. The name means “The Base” in Arabic.
Its central goal has been the establishment of a global Islamic caliphate through violent jihad, particularly targeting what it sees as Western influences in Muslim countries and regimes that don’t follow its extremist interpretation of Islam.
📜 Origins & History
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Founded: ~1988, during the final years of the Soviet-Afghan War. The group emerged from the Mujahideen fighters that the U.S., Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia had supported against the Soviets.
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Founder: Osama bin Laden, a wealthy Saudi national, used his personal fortune and global connections to recruit and finance jihadist fighters.
💣 Major Attacks
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1998 U.S. Embassy bombings (Kenya & Tanzania)
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Over 200 killed; al-Qaeda’s first major international attack.
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2000: USS Cole Bombing (Yemen)
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Suicide bombing killed 17 U.S. Navy sailors.
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September 11, 2001 (9/11) – The most devastating attack
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Coordinated hijackings of 4 planes in the U.S.
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Nearly 3,000 people killed.
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Led to the U.S.-led invasion of Afghanistan in October 2001.
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🎯 Ideology
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Salafi-jihadism: Advocates a return to what it sees as the “pure” Islam of the Prophet Muhammad’s time, through militant struggle (jihad).
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Opposes:
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Western influence in Muslim countries
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Israel and Zionism
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Secular and “apostate” Muslim governments
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Claims the right and duty to kill civilians in jihad, which is why it’s labeled a terrorist organization globally.
🧠 Structure
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Once a centralized hierarchy, now more decentralized after 2001.
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Operates through franchises and affiliates across different regions:
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Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) – Yemen
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Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) – North Africa
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Al-Shabaab – Somalia
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Huras al-Din – Syria
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Jabhat al-Nusra (formerly linked)
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These groups often act semi-independently but pledge loyalty to al-Qaeda’s leadership.
💀 Leadership
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Osama bin Laden: Killed in 2011 in Abbottabad, Pakistan, by U.S. Navy SEALs.
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Ayman al-Zawahiri: Bin Laden’s deputy; became leader. Killed by U.S. drone strike in 2022 in Kabul.
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Current leadership is uncertain or secretive, but Saif al-Adel, a former Egyptian military officer, is believed to be a key figure now.
🏴 Relationship with Other Groups
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Rivalry with ISIS: Although both are extremist jihadist groups, al-Qaeda and ISIS split in 2014 due to ideological and strategic differences. ISIS is more brutal and sought a caliphate immediately.
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Taliban: Historically allied. The Taliban sheltered al-Qaeda in Afghanistan before and after 9/11.
🌍 Current Status (as of 2024–2025)
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Al-Qaeda is no longer the centralized force it once was but still very active in regions like:
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Yemen
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Mali & Sahel
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Somalia
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Syria
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It has shifted to a more patient, long-term strategy, rebuilding local support, avoiding large Western attacks, and exploiting conflict zones.
📌 International Designation
Al-Qaeda is classified as a terrorist organization by:
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The United Nations
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United States
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European Union
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Russia
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India
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Many other countries
. THE GULF WAR .
🌍 Background & Causes
Date: August 1990 – February 1991
Main Aggressor: Iraq
Victim: Kuwait
Key Trigger:
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Iraq, led by Saddam Hussein, invaded Kuwait on August 2, 1990.
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Saddam accused Kuwait of:
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Overproducing oil (hurting Iraq’s economy).
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Stealing oil from the Rumaila oil field near the Iraq-Kuwait border.
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Being an illegitimate state created by British colonialism.
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Iraq was also deep in debt after the Iran-Iraq War (1980–1988) and saw Kuwait’s wealth as a solution.
🌐 Global Response
United Nations:
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UN Security Council condemned the invasion.
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Imposed economic sanctions on Iraq.
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Eventually issued Resolution 678, giving Iraq a deadline (January 15, 1991) to withdraw from Kuwait—or face military action.
Coalition Forces:
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A massive coalition of 35 countries, led by the United States under President George H.W. Bush, formed.
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Key players: UK, France, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Canada, and others.
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Iraq had over 500,000 troops, mostly in Kuwait.
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Coalition deployed over 700,000 troops, mostly U.S.
⚔️ War Phases
1. Operation Desert Shield (Aug 1990 – Jan 1991)
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Defensive phase.
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Coalition forces massed in Saudi Arabia to protect it from a potential Iraqi invasion.
2. Operation Desert Storm (Jan 17 – Feb 28, 1991)
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Combat phase.
a) Air War (Jan 17 – Feb 24)
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Started with a massive air campaign.
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Coalition targeted:
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Iraqi military infrastructure.
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Command and control centers.
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Civilian infrastructure (controversial).
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Iraq responded by:
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Launching Scud missiles at Israel and Saudi Arabia.
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Setting Kuwaiti oil wells on fire.
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Committing atrocities in Kuwait.
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b) Ground War (Feb 24 – Feb 28)
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A 100-hour ground offensive.
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Swift coalition advance, liberating Kuwait in days.
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Iraqi forces were crushed and retreated chaotically (the “Highway of Death”).
📉 Aftermath
For Iraq:
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Devastating military defeat.
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Infrastructure ruined.
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UN weapons inspections imposed.
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Economic sanctions crippled Iraq for years.
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Saddam remained in power, but weakened.
For Kuwait:
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Liberated, but had massive damage and environmental destruction (oil fires, spills).
For the U.S. and Allies:
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Seen as a successful, quick military operation.
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U.S. prestige rose.
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Introduced high-tech warfare (precision bombing, GPS-guided weapons).
Long-Term Impact:
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Left Saddam in power, leading to the 2003 Iraq War.
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Regional instability increased.
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Influenced groups like Al-Qaeda, who opposed U.S. troops stationed in Saudi Arabia.
📰 Notable Points
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The war was heavily televised—the first “live” war with real-time media coverage.
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Massive use of stealth technology and smart weapons.
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Marked a shift in modern warfare.