al-Qaeda (historical ties)

Al-Qaeda is a militant Islamist organization founded in the late 1980s with the goal of establishing a strict Islamic state. It gained international attention for orchestrating terrorist attacks, most notably the September 11, 2001, attacks in the United States. Historically, it has maintained ties to prior groups involved in jihadi movements and has received support from various state and non-state entities over time. Its leadership, including Osama bin Laden, has been responsible for planning and executing attacks worldwide, aiming to challenge Western influence and promote their extremist ideology.