qaidah

Qa'idah (Arabic: قاعدة) means “base” or “foundation” in Arabic. In English transliteration, qaidah or qa’ida is used, and Al-Qa’ida literally translates as “the base” or “the foundation.” The term is most widely known in connection with the global militant Islamist network that emerged in the late 1980s.

Origins and naming: The group traces its origins to the Afghan jihad against the Soviet invasion, with Osama bin Laden and others seeking to unite various militant groups under a central leadership to wage a global jihad. The name Al-Qa’ida was adopted to symbolize a base from which operatives would coordinate and extend their activities beyond Afghanistan.

Structure and activities: Al-Qa’ida has operated as a decentralized network of core leadership and regional affiliates. It has claimed responsibility for and inspired numerous terrorist attacks around the world, most notably the September 11, 2001 attacks in the United States, and it has maintained a continued propaganda and fundraising presence.

Designations: Al-Qa’ida is designated as a terrorist organization by many countries and international bodies, including the United States, the United Nations, the European Union, and others.

Current status: Following the death of Osama bin Laden in 2011 and the killing of longtime leader Ayman al-Zawahiri in 2022, the group continues to operate through regional affiliates such as AQAP, AQIM, and others. Its centralized leadership is widely described as diminished compared with its peak, though the network remains active in various regions.