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Al Qaeda’s Threat Persists, 25 Years After the 9/11 Attacks
Al-Qaeda’s core has weakened, but its affiliates in Africa and Asia have gained territory and influence, experts said.
- On Friday, September 11, 2026, the world marks 25 years since the 9/11 attacks killed nearly 3,000 people and triggered the War on Terror. Al-Qaeda has since evolved from a centralized network into a diffused organization with regional affiliates.
- Al-Qaeda survived the 20-year insurgency by adapting, moving from attacking the 'distant enemy' to establishing local structures. It maintains a presence in Afghanistan, where the Taliban government continues to provide patronage and security.
- In the competition for public attention, al-Qaeda faces a rival in the Islamic State, which experts say attracts younger jihadists. The group shifted toward a strategy of 'localization,' embedding with local movements to obscure its presence.
- Militant groups, including the Pakistani Taliban, navigate porous borders to stage attacks, increasing instability in Pakistan. While the Taliban present a 'modern face' in Kabul, armed groups remain active throughout Afghanistan.
- Security officials acknowledge an intelligence vacuum regarding Afghanistan, warning that new threats could emerge unnoticed. Experts remain divided on whether al-Qaeda's evolution into a diffused, low-intensity threat makes it more manageable or simply harder to prevent.
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14 Articles
14 Articles
EXPLAINER: What's happened to al Qaeda in the 25 years since 9/11?
In the 25 years since al Qaeda militants hijacked passenger jets and flew them into New York's World Trade Center towers and the Pentagon, the group founded by Osama bin Laden has spawned affiliates and inspired attacks around the world.
·Quezon City, Philippines (the)
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Although Al Qaeda's various affiliates no longer respond to the logic of global jihad promoted by Osama Bin Laden, they continue to destabilize many regions of the world, from the Sahel to Somalia, Yemen and Afghanistan.
·Issy-les-Moulineaux, France
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25 YEARS after September 11, al-Qaeda has been weakened and has changed its strategy. Instead of global attacks, it focuses on regional branches and local conflicts, thus ensuring its survival.
·Zagreb, Croatia
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Coverage Details
Total News Sources14
Leaning Left4Leaning Right3Center6Last UpdatedBias Distribution46% Center
Bias Distribution
- 46% of the sources are Center
46% Center
L 31%
C 46%
R 23%
Factuality
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