Al Qaeda leader, rumoured dead, surfaces in video on 9/11 anniversary

Ayman-al-Zawahiri, an Al Qaeda leader who was rumoured to be dead, was seen talking in a recent video clip released by the official media arm of Al Qaeda on the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks in the United States of America.
The SITE Intelligence group in US reports that Ayman spoke on a number of issues in the newly released video including the recent raid on the military base of Russia. According to sources, it was a video of hours’ duration. The Al Qaeda leader talked about a number of events but had not mentioned anything about the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan.
According to United Nations, the outfits leadership resides mostly in the border regions of Pakistan and Afghanistan.
“One-member state reports that he is probably alive but too frail to be featured in propaganda,” News 18 quoted the UN report as saying.
Earlier some media reported the leader’s death and after the release of the new video, main stream media outlets started claiming that he is alive and his death news was a rumour.
"Amid rumours of his death, Al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri shown in a new 60-minute video, this time offering some evidence that he is not dead--particularly, reference to events after December when rumours of death surfaced," Rita Katz, SITE's Director tweeted.
"Yet another signal of the importance of the Taliban in the global jihadist movement's narrative since 9/11, and how the Taliban's victory in Afghanistan is also Al-Qaeda's victory," tweeted Katz.
As per Katz, pro-Al Qaeda media groups are outpouring with 9/11 celebrations and incitements: posters, videos, hashtags, etc. It is a very organized and thoroughly prepped campaign--nothing like what I've seen in previous years.
Moreover, Al Qaeda official media wing as-Sahab announced a new forthcoming release, which seems to be a video, expected to be released today.
This followed a release of a book by Zawahiri. As-Sahab releases part one of a book series by him with an introduction dated April 2021. The 852-page instalment gives dedication to killed operatives.
While the Taliban who have taken over Afghanistan may be donning a friendly face for Western audiences, their intrinsic bonds with Al-Qaeda persists. Al Qaeda has made it clear that for them, the new Islamic Emirate is a victory and they're beneficiaries of the spoils.
Zawahiri succeeded Osama Bin Laden as the chief of the group after Laden was hunted down by US SEAL forces in Jalalabad in Pakistan.
Intelligence agencies have, as of yet, offered no proof or solid assessments that Zawahiri is dead, leaving the question of his current status in the air.

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