Al-Qa'ida & Affiliates
Al-Qa`ida has been a primary area of research focus for the CTC since our founding, and this page serves as the gateway to all of the Center’s content on the group and its formally recognized affiliates. Our early research on al-Qa`ida helped to demystify the group and establish a more informed understanding of the group’s history, how it operates, the relations it has had with other actors, and the debates and divisions that have challenged the group and its trajectory. When possible, our work on al-Qa`ida is accompanied by the release of declassified, or otherwise uniquely obtained, primary sources produced by the group.
Below you will find CTC content on al-Qa`ida in a range of formats, including in-depth reports, CTC Sentinel articles, short CTC Perspectives, primary sources, and other CTC commentary.
This material covers the entity that is commonly referred to as al-Qa`ida Core, which is mostly resident in the Afghanistan-Pakistan region, and the following al-Qa`ida affiliates:
Al-Qa`ida in Iraq*
*Now defunct, this group was a predecessor group to the entity that now calls itself the Islamic State. If you click on the al-Qa`ida in Iraq link you will be redirected to the Islamic State & Predecessor Groups landing page where al-Qa`ida in Iraq content now resides.
Al-Qa`ida in the Islamic Maghreb
Al-Qa`ida in the Arabian Peninsula
Al-Qa`ida in East Africa**
**Al-Qa`ida in East Africa content includes material that directly speaks to al Qa`ida’s presence in the region, and – when relevant – material about al-Shabaab. For a broader array of al-Shabaab content see the al-Shabaab page.
Al-Qa`ida in the Indian Subcontinent
Major Reports
View AllSentinel Articles
View AllApril 30, 2024
The State of al-Qa`ida Central
November 28, 2023
A View from the CT Foxhole: General (Ret) Stephen Townsend, Former Commander, AFRICOM
February 27, 2023
Jihadi ‘Counterterrorism:’ Hayat Tahrir al-Sham Versus the Islamic State
Media Coverage
View AllJune 26, 2015
Foreign Policy cites CTC Sentinel Interview
May 12, 2014
Ambassador Sheehan Writes Op-Ed for Daily News
February 18, 2014
Wall Street Journal Cites the CTC Sentinel
Other Commentary
View AllDecember 17, 2015
CTC publishes major hostage report
August 19, 2014
Agent Storm: My Life Inside al-Qaeda and the CIA
Briefings, Events, & Visits
View AllApril 18, 2014
AUSA McGuire Lectures at CTC
February 28, 2013
Prof. Bruce Hoffman Presents Lecture to SS465
November 28, 2012
Rassler Presents at CCNY
October 23, 2012
