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 AllOctober 3, 2011
A False Foundation? AQAP, Tribes and Ungoverned Spaces in Yemen
July 13, 2011
The Haqqani Nexus and the Evolution of al-Qa’ida
December 16, 2010
Self Inflicted Wounds
February 25, 2010
The Failure of Jihad in Saudi Arabia
Sentinel Articles
View AllAugust 9, 2022
The Taliban One Year On
July 19, 2022
The Relentless Terrorist: A Profile of Muaz al-Fizani
April 14, 2022
A View from the CT Foxhole: David Caulfield, Former Chief, Defense Combating Terrorism Center, Defense Intelligence Agency
March 31, 2022
Examining Digital Currency Usage by Terrorists in Syria
Media Coverage
View AllSeptember 15, 2013
ABC News Cites the CTC Sentinel
May 24, 2013
Christian Science Monitor Cites CTC Sentinel
September 25, 2012
CNN Cites the CTC Sentinel
July 11, 2012
“Beware of Imitators” Report Press Coverage
Other Commentary
View AllJanuary 1, 2013
Al-Qaeda – A Five Volume Series
Briefings, Events, & Visits
View AllSeptember 18, 2012
Collins and Rassler Attend World Summit on CT
September 6, 2012
CSA Odierno Visits CTC
May 29, 2012
