September 11 Anniversay: Al-Qaeda Leader Calls For Attacks Against US, Europe

Al-Qaeda’s elusive leader marked the anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks with calls to attack the U.S. and many of its allies.

Ayman al-Zawahiri, 68, released his latest speech online, calling for renewed hostilities with the United States on the 18th anniversary of 9/11. Zawahiri called for members of Al-Qaeda to attack targets across the U.S., Israel, Western Europe and Russia.

“If you want Jihad to be focused solely on military targets, the American military has presence all over the world, from the East to the West,” Zawahiri said in his speech. “Your countries are littered with American bases, with all the infidels therein and the corruption they spread.”

The video was discovered by Raphael Gluck, co-founder of JihadOScope, a watchdog organization that monitors terrorist groups’ online activities. It was reportedly made by Al-Qaeda’s media arm, as-Sahab Media Foundation.

Originally from Egypt, Zawahiri has served as Al-Qaeda’s leader since the death of Osama Bin-Laden during the 2011 SEAL raid in Abbottabad, Pakistan. He is suspected to be hiding somewhere along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, though this has not been confirmed. Zawahiri is also said to be in “poor health,” according to a United Nations report.

Zawahiri has also criticized the alleged “backtrackers” of their jihad who have reformed in prison and called the innocent deaths on 9/11 unacceptable, according to SITE Intelligence Group. SITE Intelligence Group is a watchdog group, similar to JihadOScope, which tracks jihadist activity online.

Zawahiri’s threat also comes on the heels of President Trump’s speech Wednesday morning during a 9/11 ceremony.

“If anyone dares to strike our land, we will respond with the full measure of American power and the iron will of the American spirit and that spirit is unbreakable,” Trump said.