Al Qaeda at 25: Weakened but Still an Ideological Force, Experts Warn

Twenty-five years after the 9/11 attacks, al Qaeda remains a relevant force in global militancy despite significant setbacks over the decades. The group suffered a major blow in 2011 when US forces killed its founder Osama bin Laden. The rise of the Islamic State further weakened al Qaeda by drawing away fighters and attention as a rival extremist organization. However, experts caution that al Qaeda continues to provide support and ideological inspiration to militant groups, particularly across Africa.