On the day when the world remembers the attack on the Twin Towers, an audio was released in which, the leader of al-Qaeda, Ayman al-Zawahiri, accused the ISIS leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, of "sedition ". Al-Zawahiri has also refuted the statements of al-Baghdadi, self-proclaimed caliph of all Muslims on the planet.
The message highlights the profound division between the two terrorist movements and their positions that now appear irreconcilable. It is therefore a crucial moment for international counterterrorism: the disagreements between the two factions could be further encouraged to lead to a real conflict between al-Qaeda and Isis.
"We preferred not to take a position in the hope that the fire of sedition would go out, but Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi and his brothers did not leave us a choice. They asked all mujaheddin to break off any relationship and to swear allegiance to their "Caliphate. The creation of the fourth caliphate of Islamic history, without consulting the Muslims, is unforgivable."
It should be noted that the message may have been recorded last spring. Al-Zawahiri, in fact, once again swears allegiance to the Taliban leader Mullah Omar, recently declared dead.
It is clear that bin Laden's death created a rift in al-Qaeda, which the United States could use to its advantage. Al-Zawahiri's statements weaken both al-Qaeda and ISIL, and could offer Arab governments the opportunity to further divide terrorist groups.
