Al-Qaeda (pronounced /ælˈkaɪdə/ or /ælˈkeɪdə/; Arabic: القاعدة‎, al-qāʿidah, "the base"), alternatively spelled al-Qaida and sometimes al-Qa'ida, is an Islamist group founded sometime between August 1988[5] and late 1989 and early 1990.[6] It operates as a network comprising both a multinational, stateless arm[7] and a fundamentalist Sunni movement calling for global jihad.

Al-Qaeda has attacked civilian and military targets in various countries, the most notable being the September 11 attacks in 2001. These actions were followed by the US government launching the War on Terrorism. Between three thousand and four thousand members of the network have been captured, and many thousands more killed on the front in Afghanistan.

Characteristic techniques include suicide attacks and simultaneous bombings of different targets.[8] Activities ascribed to it may involve members of the movement, who have taken a pledge of loyalty to Osama bin Laden, or the much more numerous "al-Qaeda-linked" individuals who have undergone training in one of its camps in Afghanistan or Sudan but not taken any pledge.

Al-Qaeda ideologues envision a complete break from the foreign influences in Muslim countries and the creation of a new Islamic caliphate. Reported beliefs include that a Christian-Jewish alliance is conspiring to destroy Islam,[10] and that the killing of bystanders and civilians is religiously justified in jihad.

Its management philosophy has been described as "centralization of decision and decentralization of execution."[11] Following the War on Terrorism, it is thought that al-Qaeda's leadership has "become geographically isolated", leading to the "emergence of decentralized leadership" of regional groups using the al-Qaeda "brand name."

Al-Qaeda has been labeled a terrorist organization by the United Nations Security Council,[14] the North Atlantic Treaty Organization Secretary General,[15][16] the Commission of the European Communities of the European Union,[17] the United States Department of State,[18] the Australian Government,[19] Government of India,[20] Public Safety Canada,[21] the Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs,[22] Japan's Diplomatic Bluebook,[23] South Korean Foreign Ministry,[24] the French General Secretary For National Defence,[25] the Dutch Military Intelligence and Security Service,[26] the United Kingdom Home Office,[27] Russia,[28] the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs,[29] Turkish Police Forces[30] and the Swiss Government