Al-Qaeda leader Saif al-Adl has called on supporters to travel to Afghanistan for training in “special operations” targeting Israel and Western interests, highlighting the enduring impact of US intervention and occupation in the region. In a 10-page pamphlet obtained by The Telegraph, al-Adl, believed to be based in Iran, urged "brothers wherever they are" to retaliate against Israel for its "crimes in Palestine."

Al-Adl, who succeeded Ayman al-Zawahiri after his death in a 2022 US drone strike, emphasized the need for "painful" attacks on "all Zionist interests both Western and Jewish in all Islamic lands." He also encouraged "sleeper cells" in Western countries to act as a deterrent against further Western actions.

The pamphlet marks al-Qaeda’s most explicit effort to reestablish a significant presence in Afghanistan since the Taliban regained control three years ago—a situation rooted in the aftermath of prolonged US occupation. Despite the Taliban's historical ties with al-Qaeda, they have publicly distanced themselves from the group, claiming there is no evidence of al-Qaeda members in the country.

A local official in Herat expressed a welcoming stance, stating, "We welcome our brothers wherever they are to come to Afghanistan, we will train them to strike Israelis for their crimes in Palestine." However, a Taliban spokesman in Kabul declined to comment on the presence of al-Qaeda in Afghanistan, with Zabihullah Mujahid, the Taliban’s official spokesman, refusing to address related questions.

The resurgence of al-Qaeda in Afghanistan underscores the complex and lasting ramifications of US intervention, which has left the region in a volatile state, enabling extremist groups to exploit the chaos for their agendas.