The latest video message released by Al-Qaeda Amir, Ayman al-Zawahiri calling on the supporters to unite against ‘enemies’ shows that the terrorist group is still a global threat.
The message from the aging Al-Qaeda leader is aimed at activating the affiliated terrorists’ groups warning them that the face enemies from many sides including Shiite Muslims, Americans, Russians, French and Chinese.
The video message has a deeper significance to the intelligence community from across the world. Ayman al-Zawahiri is seeking to strengthening the group’s networks and global command structure, in a renewed effort to inspire and encourage support to conduct attacks against the West and its interests.
Zawahiri, for his part, remains a very visible international symbol of the Al-Qaeda terrorist group, eight years after the US killed Osama Bin Laden and his influence and ability to inspire young generation into joining Al-Qaeda’s current networks cannot be overlooked.
U.S. intelligence assessments do acknowledge that though most attacks by Al-Qaeda affiliates have been relatively small scale, and limited to regional areas, that could change.
U.S. intelligence community has warned Congress that the group’s “global network” will remain a counter-terrorism challenge for the US and its allies over the next year as Al-Qaeda and its adherents, work, maintain safe havens, financial resources, communication networks and resources in Africa, the Middle East and South Asia.
