SITE Intelligence Group, based in the United States, reported that Zawahiri spoke about several issues.
New Delhi:
Twenty years after the horrific terrorist attack on the United States, al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri, who is rumored to be dead, has appeared in a video posted on his 9/11 birthday.
The U.S.-based SITE Intelligence Group, which tracks the online activity of jihadist groups, reported that Zawahiri spoke on a variety of topics.
Rita Katz, director of SITE, tweeted: “Amid rumors of his death, al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri is shown in a new 60-minute video, which this time offers some evidence that he is not dead, especially in reference to events after December when rumors of the death appeared. “
17) Amid rumors of his death, al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri is shown in a new 60-minute video, this time offering some evidence that he is not dead, particularly the reference to facts later in December, when rumors of the death surfaced. (A March speech did not offer this test) pic.twitter.com/IXpz6wIZvh
– Rita Katz (@Rita_Katz) September 11, 2021
In the video, Zawahiri spoke about an incursion against a Russian military base by the Al-Qaeda-affiliated Hurras al-Deen in Syria, which he claimed on January 1st.
The clip features Zawahiri with “May God Protect Him.” The video also uses clips of Taliban media, showing their fighters.
“Another sign of the importance of the Taliban in the narrative of the global jihadist movement since 9/11 and how the Taliban’s victory in Afghanistan is also the victory of al-Qaeda,” Katz tweeted.
According to Katz, pro-Al Qaeda newsgroups are offering 9/11 celebrations and incitations: posters, videos, hashtags, and more. It is a very organized and thoroughly prepared campaign;
Meanwhile, the official media wing of al-Qaeda as-Sahab announced a new release, which appears to be a video, which is expected to be released today.
This followed after the publication of a book by Zawahiri. As-Sahab launches the first part of a series of books by him with an introduction dated April 2021. The 852-page delivery devotes dedication to the murdered workers.
While the Taliban who have seized Afghanistan may be having a kind face for Western audiences, their intrinsic ties to al-Qaeda persist. Al Qaeda has made it clear that for them, the new Islamic emirate is a victory and they are beneficiaries of the loot.
Zawahiri succeeded Osama Bin Laden as head of the group after Laden was chased by U.S. SEAL forces in Jalalabad, Pakistan.
Intelligence agencies, so far, have offered no solid evidence or assessment that Zawahiri is dead, leaving the question of his current state in the air.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)