Database: Identifiers of Designated Islamic Terrorist Organizations

Al-Qaeda

Designation Status (as of October 12, 2026)

US State Dept FTO	Listed al-Qa’ida (AQ) since October 8, 1999
US Treasury OFAC SDN (SDGT)	Listed AL-QA'IDA IN THE ARABIAN PENINSULA; AL QA'IDA
UK Proscribed	Listed Al Qa’ida (AQ) since March 2001
EU Terrorist Lists	Listed Al Qaeda
Canada Listed Entities	Listed Al Qaida since July 23, 2002
Australia Listed	Listed Al-Qa’ida (AQ) since October 21, 2002

Official lists as of October 12, 2026. Listing names are quoted as the list gives them. What changed since 2018

Profile written 2014 The profile below is the original Jihad Intel text and has not been updated. Designation status above is current.

Designated as terrorist by: Australia, Canada, European Union, United Kingdom, United Nations, United States

Base of operations: Afghanistan, Pakistan

Background: National Counterterrorism Center
Background: Council on Foreign Relations

Founded by Osama bin Laden in conjunction with Arab veterans of the anti-Soviet jihad in Afghanistan, al-Qaeda (Arabic for "the Base") is the archetypal Sunni terrorist group. Al-Qaeda's goals are to rid the Islamic world of Western influence, topple secular Muslim governments, and establish a new caliphate (Islamic state) ruled by Shari'a (Islamic law). Its 1998 declaration, issued under the rubric of "the World Islamic Front for Jihad Against the Jews and Crusaders," called on Muslims to kill Americans and their allies. Turning these words into deeds, al-Qaeda terrorists bombed the U.S. embassies in Nairobi, Kenya, and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, in 2008, murdering 224, including 12 Americans; attacked the USS Cole in 2000, claiming the lives of 17 U.S. sailors; and carried out the suicide hijackings of September 11, 2001. Though it has lost its Afghan base and much of its leadership to U.S. military action, al-Qaeda is still focused on striking Western targets and has morphed into a terrorist "brand" with affiliates across Africa and the Middle East.

In light of the competition with the Islamic State, al-Qaeda reaffirmed in July 2014 its allegiance to Mullah Omar, leader of the Taliban. In September 2014, al-Qaeda announced a new affiliate in the Indian subcontinent area.