Osama bin Laden founded al-Qaeda during the latter stages of the Soviet-Afghan War with the goal of waging global jihad. In addition to directing and carrying out the September 11, 2001 attacks, the deadliest ever on American soil, al-Qaeda is responsible for terrorist atrocities across the globe. The group has established five major regional affiliates pledging their official allegiance to al-Qaeda: in the Arabian Peninsula, North Africa, East Africa, Syria, and the Indian subcontinent. Though some of its affiliates have pledged allegiance to al-Qaeda’s former affiliate in Iraq and current competitor, ISIS, the U.S. Pentagon and other intelligence groups have forcefully stressed that al-Qaeda remains a critical terrorist threat.