Al Qaeda Leader Appears In New Video Marking 9/11, Despite Death Rumors

It’s been years since the world heard from Al-Qaida leader Ayman al-Zawahri, who became the main face of the terror group after the 2011 death of Osama bin Laden. After the wars in Iraq and Syria and with the rise of ISIS, al-Qaeda has also seen its “prestige” eclipsed in recent years. 

Zawahri has even long been rumored to be dead; however, a new video of the reclusive 70-year old jihadi and one of the founding members of al-Qaeda is being considered fresh proof that he’s still alive and is directing the organization. The video was reportedly released to mark the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, as The Associated Press details:

The SITE Intelligence Group that monitors jihadist websites said the video was released Saturday. In it, al-Zawahri said that “Jerusalem Will Never be Judaized,” and praised al-Qaida attacks including one that targeted Russian troops in Syria in January.

17) Amid rumors of his death, al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri shown in new 60-minute video, this time offering some evidence that he is not dead–particularly, reference to events after December, when rumors of death surfaced. (A speech from March offered no such proof) pic.twitter.com/IXpz6wIZvh

— Rita Katz (@Rita_Katz) September 11, 2021

But there’s speculation that it may have been recorded at the start of this year, given no mention is made of the recent Taliban takeover of Afghanistan. Rita Katz, head of the counter-terror analysis group SITE, said in a weekend statement of Zawahri that “He could still be dead, though if so, it would have been at some point in or after Jan 2021.”

Clues in the video as to the timing of its production include the terror leader’s mention of a Jan.1, 2021 attack on Russian troops outside Raqqa in Syria. Al-Qaeda has for years been vocally supportive of the armed “jihad” in Syria and attempts to overthrow President Bashar al-Assad.

The video is somewhat lengthy, at over 61 minutes, and was produced reportedly by al-Qaeda’s as-Sahab Media Foundation.

22) As the AQ community continues to flood channels and hype up Zawahiri speech, their incitements remind one that AQ remains intent as ever to harm America. One pro-AQ magazine released today incites for more attacks with aircraft: “Are we not able to repeat it?” pic.twitter.com/BiypVvZVQw

— Rita Katz (@Rita_Katz) September 11, 2021

Since the video’s weekend release – timed just as America held memorials at New York’s World Trade Center, the Pentagon and a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania where United Airlines Flight 93 went down after al-Qaeda terrorists hijacked it – al-Qaeda propaganda channels and media have suggested its terror operatives desire to “repeat” such a major attack against the West and the US.