On May 2nd, 2011 U.S. force SEAL Team 6 raided a compound in Abbottabad that was believed to be the hiding spot of international terrorist and al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden. It was there that U.S. forces neutralized bin Laden as well as his son, Khalid, the only target that was missing was bin Laden’s other son, Hamza bin Laden.
The death of bin Laden was seen as a major blow against terrorist group al Qaeda, although in the following years groups like ISIS have risen up in their stead. But now, according to a report from Reuters, the bin Laden and al Qaeda names might become relevant again with the resurfacing of Hamza bin Laden. In a new, 21-minute-long audio tape released today, the remaining son of Osama bin Laden promised that al Qaeda would continue its fight against the United States and their allies.
“We will continue striking you and targeting you in your country and abroad in response to your oppression of the people of Palestine, Afghanistan, Syria, Iraq, Yemen, Somalia and the rest of the Muslim lands that did not survive your oppression.”
As for if this was simply a measure of revenge for the death of his father, in his speech, which was titled “We Are All Osama,” he did bring up the death of his father, but mentioned him not as simply an individual, but the embodiment of those who — as he said — defended Islam.
“As for the revenge by the Islamic nation for Sheikh Osama, may Allah have mercy on him, it is not revenge for Osama the person but it is revenge for those who defended Islam.”
Hamza, the lone surviving son of Osama bin Laden that was involved in his organization prior to his death, was mentioned by name in a letter from bin Laden that was acquired inside of the Abbottabad compound, with bin Laden wishing that his son would study to be a religious scholar in Qatar so that Hamza could “refute the wrong and the suspicions raised around Jihad.” Hamza has kept a low profile since the deaths of his father and brother, with his introduction to the world as one of the leaders of al Qaeda still relatively fresh. It’s believed that he will serve as the new face for the organization.
(Via Rueters/The Washington Post)