World · 6 February 2026
Al-Qaeda expands to 25,000 fighters, fifty-fold rise.
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A United Nations assessment shows Al-Qaeda has rebuilt and expanded dramatically since the September 11 attacks. The extremist network is now estimated to have close to 25,000 fighters worldwide, representing a fifty-fold rise from its early-2000s strength. Counter-terror officials say the group has shifted into a decentralised model, embedding cells across parts of Africa and the Middle East while keeping Western nations in its sights. Researchers also point to evolving recruitment strategies, with propaganda campaigns online and the exploitation of economic hardship drawing in younger followers
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