Final answer:
Al Qaeda is an international terrorist network, founded by Osama bin Laden, responsible for the 9/11 attacks. Bin Laden, born into a wealthy Saudi Arabian family, led Al Qaeda and was killed by US forces in 2011. The 9/11 attacks prompted the 'War on Terror', leading to the US invasion of Afghanistan and a global campaign against terrorism.
Step-by-step explanation:
What is Al Qaeda and Who Was Osama bin Laden?
Al Qaeda is an international terrorist network known for carrying out the September 11 attack on the United States. The organization advocates for a militant form of Islam and claims to wage 'jihad', or holy war, against the West, particularly targeting the United States and its allies. Founded by Osama bin Laden, a wealthy Saudi Arabian national, Al Qaeda aims to establish a pan-Islamic caliphate and expel Western influence from Muslim countries.
Osama bin Laden, who was born into a wealthy family with close ties to the Saudi royal family, turned against the West, despite benefiting from its financial system. His resentment towards the United States and its allies grew from his perception that the West was responsible for the decay of what he considered the true form of Islam. Bin Laden gained notoriety as the leader of Al Qaeda, and under his guidance, the group carried out several high-profile terrorist attacks, including the 9/11 attacks. After a prolonged manhunt, he was located and killed by US special forces in Pakistan on May 1, 2011.
Following the 9/11 attacks, the United States, supported by international allies, initiated the 'War on Terror' to dismantle Al Qaeda and eliminate its ability to carry out further terrorist attacks. This campaign included the invasion of Afghanistan, the overthrow of the Taliban who had harbored Al Qaeda, and the disruption of the terrorist group's training camps. The War on Terror significantly shaped global politics and security policies in the early twenty-first century.