Who led Al Qaeda?

Al Qaeda was founded by Osama bin Laden in the late 1980s. He served as its leader until his death in 2011, when he was killed by U.S. Navy SEALs in Pakistan. Following his death, Ayman al-Zawahiri, who had been bin Laden's deputy, took over leadership until he was killed in a U.S. drone strike in 2022. The organization has continued to evolve with various leaders and affiliates across different regions.