KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – A new report reveals that Hamza bin Laden, the son of former al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, is alive and leading the terrorist group in Afghanistan, contradicting earlier reports of his death.
The Mirror through a report claimed that Hamza, 43, survived a 2019 U.S. airstrike that was believed to have killed him. Instead, he is reportedly operating in Jalalabad, eastern Afghanistan, under the protection of 450 militants, including Arabs and Pakistanis. His brother, Abdullah bin Laden, is also allegedly involved in rebuilding al-Qaeda’s network, which now includes several terror training camps across the country.
The report citing experts claims Hamza has met with senior Taliban officials, who are said to be providing protection and logistical support. “Hamza bin Laden is not only alive but actively involved in al-Qaeda’s resurgence,” the report stated, indicating regular meetings between Taliban leaders and Hamza’s group.
Under Hamza’s leadership, al-Qaeda is reportedly regrouping and preparing for future attacks on Western targets. His actions, the report suggests, are driven by a determination to continue his father’s legacy, adding both symbolic and strategic weight to al-Qaeda’s revival.
Hamza, who previously worked with Ayman al-Zawahiri, became a central figure in the network’s revival. Al-Zawahiri was killed in a U.S. drone strike in Kabul in 2022.
While the Taliban has repeatedly denied links to terrorist organizations, a UN Security Council’s monitoring report highlighted growing ties between the Taliban and al-Qaeda. The report revealed that al-Qaeda is using the country as a recruitment hub while covertly rebuilding its external operations capabilities.
According to the UN, Al-Qaeda has established at least 12 training camps and runs five madrassas, or religious schools, in Laghman, Kunar, Nangarhar, Nuristan, and Parwan provinces.
The National Resistance Front (NRF), an armed group fighting the Taliban, has also warned of al-Qaeda’s growing presence in Afghanistan. Ali Maisam Nazary, the NRF’s foreign relations head, claimed al-Qaeda has established eight new training bases this year, including in the previously inaccessible Panjshir Valley.
The resurgence of terrorist networks in Afghanistan has reignited fears that the country could once again serve as a launchpad for attacks on Western nations.
Afghanistan’s neighbors, including Pakistan, Iran, India, and several Central Asian countries, have expressed growing concerns about terrorism emanating from Afghanistan. Many fear that militant groups operating from the country could destabilize the region through cross-border attacks.
Despite the Taliban’s denials of any links to al-Qaeda and other terror groups, multiple reports, including from the UN, suggest that these ties have only strengthened since the Taliban’s return to power in Afghanistan.
