After Qurayshi's death, who are Mideast's most wanted terrorists?
Following the death of Islamic State leader Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Quraysh, here's a look at what Middle East terrorists remain at large.
Before his death in an overnight US special forces raid, Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurayshi was among one of the world’s most wanted terrorists. Al-Qurayshi took the helm of the Islamic State after Abu Bakr al-Baghadi died in a similar US operation in 2019.
In remarks on Thursday, President Joe Biden said al-Qurayshi’s death would sent a strong message to terrorists worldwide: “We will come after you and find you.” Here’s a look at several other Middle East terrorists who remain at large and whose whereabouts are sought by the United States.
Ayman al-Zawahiri is the current leader of al-Qaeda. Born into a prominent Egyptian family, al-Zawahiri merged his group, Egyptian Islamic Jihad, with al-Qaeda in 1998. He served as Osama bin Laden's personal physician and closest adviser until his death in 2011.
The US government accuses al-Zawahiri of plotting the USS Cole bombing in Yemen, which killed 17 US sailors in October 2000. He’s also believed to have helped coordinate the 9/11 attacks and was indicted in the United States for his role in the 1988 twin US embassy bombings that killed 224 people in Kenya and Tanzania. In September 2021, al-Zawahiri, who was rumored dead, appeared in a new video marking the 20th anniversary of 9/11. The US State Department has offered a $25 million reward for information on his location.
