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Ayman al-Zawahiri
Introduction
Posted: July 16, 2009
Ayman al-Zawahiri, Al Qaeda's second-in-command and ideological leader, merged resources with Osama bin Laden to create the world's deadliest and most complex international terrorist network.
In recent years, Zawahiri has increasingly become the public voice of Al Qaeda, issuing dozens of statements on behalf of the terrorist movement. These statements - released as videos, audio recordings and written statements - focus on a range of issues and often include threats against Israel and Jews.
For example, in a January 6, 2009, audio message, Zawahiri called on Muslims to attack Israeli and Western targets around the world in response to Israel's military action against Hamas in Gaza. Zawahiri pledged to help the Palestinians during Israel's operation in Gaza against Hamas, and also warned that American "will certainly not even dream of security before we actually live in security in Palestine."
In the message, Zawahiri also blamed President-elect Barack Obama for Israel's military action against Hamas in Gaza, saying that "he is killing your brothers and sisters in Gaza without any mercy or compassion."
In November 2008, Zawahiri issued a video statement about Obama, responding in part to his election as President of the United States. Zawahiri called Obama a "house slave," or as the English subtitles read, a "House Negro," and suggested that Obama "chose to stand in the ranks of the enemies of the Muslims and pray the prayer of the Jews."
In April 2008, Zawahiri threatened Israel and "Jewish interests" in a 90-minute audio message billed as the first installment of responses to more than 900 questions submitted on Web sites commonly used by Islamic militants. In this message, Zawahiri endorsed "every operation against Jewish interests" and promised to "strive as much as we can to deal blows to the Jews inside Israel and outside it, with Allah's help and guidance." In response to several questions about where Al Qaeda is headed next, Zawahiri responded, "I expect the Jihadi influence to spread after the Americans' exit from Iraq, and to move towards Jerusalem."
Zawahiri is listed as the second most wanted terrorist, behind Osama bin Laden, by the FBI, which is offering up to $25 million for information leading to his capture. He is believed to be hiding somewhere between Afghanistan and Pakistan.
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