Middle-east Arab News Opinion | Asharq Al-awsat

Zawahiri Strongly Criticizes Baghdadi | ASHARQ AL-AWSAT English Archive 2005 -2017
Select Page
Media ID: 55365127
Caption:

Al Qaeda’s Ayman al-Zawahri speaks from an unknown location, in this still image taken from video uploaded on a social media website June 8, 2011. REUTERS/Social Media Website via Reuters TV


Cairo- Al-Qaeda Chief Ayman al-Zawahiri has targeted ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi with severe accusations in a message that explicitly shows the continuous struggle between the two groups to prevail, according to an Egyptian report.

Al-Qaeda and ISIS have always shared tense relation from the time ISIS became one of the most extremist groups in the world. In an audio message broadcasted online, Zawahiri accused Baghdadi of lying to deform the image of al-Qaeda.

The priority should be given to target the U.S., Zawahiri added in his audio message.

Analysts see that Zawahiri message seeks attracting extremists from ISIS, the most spread group among terrorist groups, especially after it started to lose population in recent years.

Commenting on the message, Dar al-Ifta al-Misriyyah said in a report that the message reflects the thirst of the two terrorist groups (ISIS and al-Qaeda) to cause more blood shedding in their pursuit to spread destruction in countries all over the world.

The 11 of September attacks is the major operation in the history of al-Qaeda knowing that the group’s activity has recently been restricted to limited attacks while ISIS, on the other hand, achieved remarkable field outcome.

In return, ISIS called Zawahiri to pledge allegiance to Baghdadi since “You are a group and we are a state,” said ISIS. In 2014, ISIS also slammed Zawahiri and said that his legality has collapsed.

The Egyptian report warned of both groups’ willingness to conduct more terrorist attacks to prove their power against each other in their race to cause more bloodshed ding around the world.

Analysts said that al-Qaeda considers that there has been a change in the balance of power after the harsh strikes against ISIS in Iraq, Syria and Libya by the U.S.-led coalition.