Osama bin Laden’s son may be preparing to become the next al-Qaeda leader after he resurfaced recently. Hamza bin Laden has been quiet for several months and his return via an audio message sparked rumors that he may be the next al-Qaeda leader.
Osama’s Heir Apparent
Hamza is believed to be 23 or 24 years old, and his location is currently unknown. Although his father was killed during the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) raid in 2011 in Pakistan, many speculate that Hamza is slowly being groomed to become the next al-Qaeda leader.
USA Today states that the undated audio message, which was featured by al-Qaeda’s media division, showcased Hamza urging all Syrian jihadist groups to unite and use the current conflict in the country as a means of liberating Palestine. The current al-Qaeda leader, Ayman al-Zawahiri, who replaced Osama, also issued a voice message one day before, apparently praising Jabhat al-Nusra, their affiliate in Syria.
Hamza bin Laden’s Message
“The Islamic umma (nation) should focus on jihad in al-Sham (Syria)… and unite the ranks of mujahideen. There is no longer an excuse for those who insist on division and disputes now that the whole world has mobilized against Muslims,” Hamza urged all jihadist groups in Syria in his message.
Hamza also said that he is following Zawahiri, knowing that he cannot move out of the latter’s shadow at the moment. Being the son of Osama Bin Laden does not automatically give him credit in a jihadist community, where some have been fighting for three decades.
The next potential al-Qaeda leader last issued a public message in August 2015, where he invited others to attack their international enemies, namely the United States, United Kingdom and France.
Rita Katz, director of Site Intelligence, said that Hamza was being projected as the next al-Qaeda leader, described as inspirational and loved by his supporters. Hamza also had no bad reputation and was not involved in infighting. However, Hamza still lacks the operational and intellectual expertise that Zawahiri has. Despite being the next potential al-Qaeda leader, he is still not considered a key figure within the group at present. He has yet to perform any prominent task that will make him as respected as his father in jihadist circles.
The Business Insider says that the group may be hoping that Hamza will represent a new generation of al-Qaeda followers. His audio messages were a clear effort to emphasize his legitimacy as an heir to Osama bin Laden and the next leader of the al-Qaeda.
More updates on the next potential al-Qaeda leader are expected soon.
