Al-Qaeda leader and 9/11 mastermind calls for new attacks on anniversary of terror attack.

Ayman al-Zawahiri in 2001. Hamid Mir. 

Al-Qaeda leader and 9/11 plotter Ayman al-Zawahiri has released a video calling for new attacks on the anniversary of the worst terror attack in American History. CBS News. Zawahiri also criticized ex-jihadists who have condemned the 9/11 terror attacks because they killed innocent civilians. It is believed that the video, which is 33 minutes long, was previously recorded as it mentioned President Trump's descion to recognize the Golan Heights as Israeli, which happened in March. Al-Qaeda has lost much of it's power and relevance due to competition from ISIS which, despite its defeat on the battlefield, remains the world's premier terror group. 

My Comment:

The days of al-Qaeda launching major terror attacks appears to be long over. The last one I remember was the Charlie Hebdo attacks and that was back in 2015. Core al-Qaeda is dead and Ayman al-Zawahiri rules no territory and commands almost zero troops. 

Al-Qaeda's affiliates are another story. Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula still exists and has pulled off some major terror attacks. And there are other affiliates, most notably in West Africa, which occasionally pulls off terror attacks as well. Plus, al-Nusra, or whatever they are calling themselves these days, is the biggest terror group left in Syria. 

Still, the days of al-Qaeda being a major threat are long over. Without a core organization they aren't able to really do to much in terms of terror attacks. They have little income and control no territory to launch attacks from. All they can really do is direct their affiliates that still have some of those things or inspire "lone wolf" terror attacks. 

Al-Qaeda's biggest problem is that ISIS has taken their role. Though ISIS has been greatly reduced they are still one of the most effective terror groups out there right now. They have been responsible for almost all of the major terror attacks that occurred in the 2010's, with the Charlie Hebdo attack being the only major exception. With ISIS being the much more effective terror group they are the ones getting the recruits and money, not al-Qaeda. 

I am not sure that al-Qaeda is even capable of attacking anyone. They haven't pulled off a major terror attack in awhile and they don't have the logistical support to do so. I am guessing that this message from Zawahiri is mostly sound and fury meaning very little. 

As for 9/11 I am just happy that there weren't any attacks today. Well, there was a terror attack in Afghanistan but that doesn't really count. Though I don't think either al-Qaeda or ISIS are in any position to launch attacks on America, they can still inspire lone wolves to attack. Thankfully that didn't happen today.