 "Is Hamza bin Laden, son of Osama bin Laden, still alive? What we know so far")
Hamza bin Laden, son of al-Qaeda’s infamous leader Osama bin Laden, has long been the subject of both intrigue and terror in global security circles.
While reports of his death surfaced in 2019 following a US airstrike, new intelligence suggests that the so-called “Crown Prince of Terror” is very much alive and possibly commanding a newly invigorated al-Qaeda from within Afghanistan.
Is Hamza Bin Laden alive?
For years, it was widely believed that Hamza bin Laden had been killed in a US airstrike, a narrative fuelled by the then-US president Donald Trump in 2019. However, no DNA evidence was ever produced to confirm his death, and the shadowy figure’s whereabouts remained uncertain.
Recent intelligence assessments indicate that Hamza may have survived the attack and is currently spearheading al-Qaeda’s resurgence, along with his brother Abdullah.
A report by Western intelligence agencies, accessed by British tabloid Daily Mirror, highlights that Hamza is living under the protection of the Taliban, conducting clandestine operations in Afghanistan.
His current stronghold is believed to be in Jalalabad, a known hotbed for terrorist activity located around 100 miles (160 kilometres) east of Kabul. The same report also suggests that al-Qaeda, under Hamza’s leadership, is making significant strides toward re-establishing itself as a formidable terror group, with as many as 10 training camps established in Afghanistan.
The National Mobilization Front (NMF), an Afghan resistance group, published an even more specific claim. According to their September 2024 report, Hamza has been moved to the Dara Abdullah Khel district in Panjshir, where he is under the protection of 450 Arab and Pakistani fighters.
How has Al-Qaeda revived again amid Taliban’s support?
Since the Taliban regained control of Afghanistan in 2021, the country has once again become a focal point for extremist activities. Intelligence reports indicate that al-Qaeda, along with other groups such as ISIS, has found safe haven under the Taliban’s protection.
Despite initial assurances from the Taliban to the international community that they would distance themselves from terrorist organisations, it is now clear that these ties are being strengthened, not severed.
According to the reports, Hamza bin Laden has been instrumental in forging these renewed alliances. Under his leadership, al-Qaeda has reportedly established at least ten new terror training camps across Afghanistan.
These camps, scattered across provinces such as Ghazni, Helmand, and Nangarhar, train fighters in everything from tactical warfare to suicide bombings. Recruits are indoctrinated with the belief that martyrdom is the ultimate goal, driving many to volunteer for suicide missions.
A detailed intelligence analysis underlines the severity of the situation: “The parallels between the current situation and the prelude to the 9/11 attacks are alarming.” The report warns that Afghanistan has become a “terrorist hotbed” with as many as 21 extremist groups operating across the country, turning it into the most dangerous region for Western interests.
One intelligence official remarked that this scenario mirrors the pre-9/11 landscape, where al-Qaeda’s training camps in Afghanistan bred the operatives that carried out the 9/11 attacks.
What is Hamza bin Laden’s role?
Hamza bin Laden’s rise to leadership within al-Qaeda carries significant symbolic weight. He is not just the son of Osama bin Laden; he represents the enduring legacy of the bin Laden dynasty within global jihadism.
This legacy has made him an inspirational figure within terrorist circles, motivating new recruits and unifying splintered jihadist factions. His brother, Abdullah bin Laden, is also believed to play a pivotal role in the organisation’s revival.
An intelligence report, based on various sources, highlights how Hamza’s leadership has been crucial in steering al-Qaeda toward its most potent resurgence since the Iraq War. “Under his command, al-Qaeda is regrouping and preparing for future attacks on Western targets,” the report notes.
Analysts believe that the next phase of al-Qaeda’s terror campaign will likely be even more sophisticated and wide-reaching, driven by Hamza’s deep connections with other extremist groups.
It is believed that Hamza’s operations are being supported by the Haqqani network, another formidable terror group operating in Afghanistan. Sirajuddin Haqqani, who leads the network, is said to have forged close personal and professional ties with Hamza, even arranging a marriage between one of his daughters and Hamza, further intertwining the two terror organisations.
Hamza’s family, including his four wives, is reportedly residing in safe houses scattered across Afghanistan’s provinces such as Ghazni, Laghman, and Helmand.
Is there another 9/11-style threat looming?
The growing presence of terror camps in Afghanistan has heightened fears of another large-scale attack on Western soil. While the West has managed to dismantle key elements of al-Qaeda since the 9/11 attacks, the group’s reemergence in Afghanistan poses a serious security threat.
Recent intelligence reports reveal that al-Qaeda is not only working with the Taliban but has also formed alliances with ISIS-K (Khorasan Province), the regional branch of the Islamic State, primarily active in Afghanistan and Pakistan, and other extremist groups operating in the region.
These alliances are based on a shared ideological hatred for the West, as well as practical collaboration in training, logistics, and operations. In some cases, there are reports of intermarriages between al-Qaeda and ISIS members, creating a more unified and dangerous jihadist network.
This cooperation is particularly alarming for security analysts who see it as a revival of the global jihadist movement, which had been severely weakened following Osama bin Laden’s death in 2011 and the fall of ISIS’s territorial caliphate.
The separate intelligence assessment from the NMF points to a growing network of terrorist groups in the northeastern regions of Afghanistan, including Kunduz, Takhar, and Badakhshan. These areas are being used as recruitment and training hubs for al-Qaeda, ISIS, and other jihadist groups, with the Taliban providing logistical support.
In Kunduz, for example, there are reported hideouts where al-Qaeda and ISIS militants operate together, despite hoisting separate flags outside their respective centres.
What now?
The network of alliances between al-Qaeda, ISIS, and the Taliban ensures that the terror organisations will continue to pose a substantial threat to global security for the foreseeable future.
While the exact status of Hamza bin Laden remains somewhat uncertain, the overwhelming body of intelligence claims that he is alive and playing a critical role in al-Qaeda’s resurgence.
With inputs from agencies
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