Introduction
Recent reports announced the death of Hamza bin Laden (HBL), the youngest son of Osama bin Laden and the heir apparent of the infamous terrorist group al-Qaeda. According to some media channels, he was killed within the first two years of the Trump administration.[1] Details about his death, including day and place, are sparse. American officials have not provided any details on the role of the military or special forces in his death. Other officials are skeptical about the death announcement, citing insufficient details.[2]
The Heir Apparent
Hamza bin Laden was the youngest son of Osama bin Laden and was the alleged heir to al-Qaeda leadership after the death of his father and older brothers.[3] Over the course of his life, he was groomed to lead al-Qaeda[4] as the head of the forefront jihadist group and started mimicking his father’s speeches while he was a child.[5] During his brief leadership, he called for attacks on the United States but did not appear to have any plans for a broad-scale offensive. Any attacks later attributed to al-Qaeda were lone-wolf attacks in various cities throughout the world, including Paris, New York, and Tel Aviv. Despite HBL’s calls to attack, al-Qaeda fell into disarray and fractured into several other groups, including the Islamic State.[6]
American Interests
Despite the lapse in al-Qaeda action, the United States continues to monitor the threat of extremist Islamic terror in the central Asian region. The US does not want to see any renewed support for al-Qaeda over the next generation. It also wants to limit the number of groups splintering off of al-Qaeda. Hamza bin Laden’s death has helped the US reach the first goal, but progress towards the second goal has slowed as newer groups like the Islamic State have risen in popularity.[7] To maintain its interests in the region, the US has focused its efforts on taking out main al-Qaeda operatives and monitoring leaders of new extremist groups.
The End of an Era?
Though al-Qaeda was the United States’ main opponent following 9/11, the terror organization dwindled in popularity and membership after 2011. In recent years, the group fractured into several short-lived regional groups. It would seem that the sudden death of the founder’s last-born would end the group’s existence altogether. HBL’s death is a significant blow to the [1] future of al-Qaeda as its support will continue to shrink. The overall decline of the group indicates that a renewed al-Qaeda force is unlikely.
US intelligence officials have noted the demise of al-Qaeda in recent years, stating that the terror group’s “brand” has been fading since the death of HBL.[8] Without the “bin Laden” name, the group has struggled to gain new members because the name attached to the group is no longer there.[9] In addition, the US has taken out several al-Qaeda officials that helped HBL run the organization.
The diminishing number of leaders means that the group will be unable to hold the significant influence it once did in the early 2000s. Al-Qaeda has failed to retain its position as the “face of Islamic Jihad” and has splintered into several smaller groups within the region, chief among them being the Islamic State.[10] Though al-Qaeda continues to have some form of leadership calling the shots, the group no longer has an ‘heir apparent’ to lead and unify the group. The death of HBL could signify the end of an American era of combating al-Qaeda.
Conclusion
The death of HBL has hurt al-Qaeda’s “brand” and legacy as the founder’s name will likely not be carried on in leadership ranks. The group will face struggles in the near future to gain popularity with newer jihadis, but this is probably not the absolute end of al-Qaeda. The group has several different factions within the Middle East, including the Arabian Peninsula and Afghanistan-Pakistan region, making it unlikely that the organization will die out completely. The group’s success, however, has been short-lived, and the overall threat the group poses to the United States remains low.
[1] Gonzales, Richard. 2019. “Hamza Bin Laden, Son of Osama Bin Laden, Is Reported Dead”, NPR, July 31. https://www.npr.org/2019/07/31/747050559/hamza-bin-laden-son-of-osama-bin-laden-is-reported-dead
[2] Williams, Jennifer. 2019. “Osama bin Laden’s son, the ‘Crown Prince of Terror’, is dead. Or is he?” Vox News, August 1. https://www.vox.com/world/2019/8/1/20750119/hamza-bin-laden-killed-dead-al-qaeda-osama-9-11-terrorism
[3] Ioanes, Ellen. 2019. “Osama bin Laden’s youngest son Hamza, who called for attacks on Americans, is reportedly dead.” Business Insider, July 31. https://www.businessinsider.com/al-qaeda-hamza-bin-laden-is-dead-2019-7?r=US&IR=T
[4] Kenny, Caroline and Brian Todd. 2017. “Osama bin Laden’s son Hamza put on US terror watch list”, CNN. Friday 6. https://www.cnn.com/2017/01/05/politics/osama-bin-laden-son-terror-watch-list/index.html
[5] Bostock, Bill. 2019. “The Secretive Life of Hamza bin Laden, Son of Osama bin Laden, who was an active terrorist from age 12 and who is reportedly dead after years on the run” Business Insider, August 1. https://www.businessinsider.com/who-is-hamza-bin-laden-osama-son-wanted-for-1-million-2019-3
[6] Strobel, Warren P. 2019. “Son of Osama bin Laden Believed Dead”, Wall Street Journal. July 31. https://www.wsj.com/articles/son-of-osama-bin-laden-believed-dead-11564612151?mod=hp_lead_pos2
[7] Barnes, Julian E., Adam Goldman and Eric Schmitt. 2019. “Son of Qaeda Founder is Dead”, New York Times, July 31.
[8] Clarke, Colin P. 2013. “Like Terrorist Father, Like Terrorist Son” Foreign Policy. August 1.
[9] Kube, Courtney. 2019. “Osama bin Laden’s son and heir, Hamza, is dead, US officials say” NBC News. July 31. https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/national-security/u-s-has-intel-osama-bin-laden-s-son-heir-n1037236
[10] Callimachi, Rukmini. 2019. “Death of Hamza bin Laden Seen as Blow to Al Qaeda’s Future”, New York Times, August 1.