Where is Al Qaeda nowadays?

When Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi rejected Al Qaeda's authority and later declared a caliphate, he split the always-fractious jihadist movement. The two are now competing for more than the leadership of the jihadist movement: they are competing for its soul. Who will emerge triumphant is not clear. read more

Al Qaeda is stronger now than ever, despite splintering in the aftermath of the ISIS-Al Nusra dispute. Both control territory in the central parts of the Middle East whereas in 2001, they were guests of the Afghan Emirate. Each of the two main splinters is much stronger than Al Qaeda in 2001. read more

But once al-Qaeda dispersed after the American-led invasion of Afghanistan in 2001, al-Qaeda fractured, decentralised. The various elements spread near and far into Pakistan, Afghanistan, Yemen, Iran and then Northern Iraq. read more