Al Qaeda Leader Ayman Al-Zawahiri, Believed Dead, Appears In Video On 9/11 Anniversary

Supposed Dead Al Qaeda Leader Ayman Al-Zawahiri, Appears In Video On 9/11 Anniversary

After his rumored death in November 2020, Al Qaeda leader Ayman Al-Zawahiri, appeared on a video on the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

The news was confirmed by the SITE Intelligence Group who posted the video on their official Twitter page and said the leader discussed events that took place after his rumored death.

It reads, “Amid rumors of his death, Al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri shown in a 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.”

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

The video, titled “Jerusalem Will Not Be Judaized”, was released on the terrorist group’s media outlet, Sahab Media. Zawahiri discussed a raid that took place on a Russian military base that was conducted by the Hurras al-Deen group in Syria on January 1. Two months before, it was rumored that the leader died in November.

Notwithstanding, he didn’t discuss the US’s exit from Afghanistan or the Taliban’s return to power.  SITE director Rita Katz said in a follow-up tweet that it was unclear if he’s dead or alive as there is no further proof to support the rumor.

“However, Zawahiri doesn’t mention Taliban’s Afghanistan victory, and his talk of US ‘making its exit from Afghanistan’ could have been saying early as Feb 2020 upon Doha Agreement. Thus, he could still be dead, though if so, would have been at some point in or after Jan 2021​.”.

Zawahiri took over after Osama Bin Laden was killed by US Navy SEALs in Pakistan.