Circle of Candidates for Succeeding Al-Qaeda’s Slain Leader Widens

Ayman al-Zawahiri, AFP
Ayman al-Zawahiri, AFP
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Circle of Candidates for Succeeding Al-Qaeda’s Slain Leader Widens

Ayman al-Zawahiri, AFP
Ayman al-Zawahiri, AFP

Experts have voiced different opinions about candidates who could possibly succeed Ayman al-Zawahiri, the slain All-Qaeda leader who was killed in a US raid carried out early last month in Afghanistan.

The list of key contenders to take over the militant organization has expanded to include new figures like Abu Ubaidah Youssef al-Annabi, Khalid Batarfi and Omar Ahmad Diri.

Saif Al-Adel and Abd Al Rahman Al-Maghrebi remain key candidates for succeeding Zawahiri.

Specialists in fundamentalist movements revealed that there is an ongoing dispute within al-Qaeda.

While close followers of Zawahiri insist on naming a successor, Osama bin Laden loyalists believe that it is dangerous to announce the name of the new leader now.

Bin Laden followers argued that announcing a new chief now will lead to the rupture and disintegration of the organization.

According to observers, al-Qaeda has lost several prominent leaders over the past years.

“Al-Qaeda is experiencing a state of fragmentation,” said Ahmed Zagloul, an Egyptian researcher specializing in the affairs of fundamentalist movements.

“This disintegration appeared clearly with the test of choosing a new leader.”

“Dispute over who will succeed al-Zawahiri is at its height within the organization, especially among branches,” Zaghloul told Asharq Al-Awsat.

Egyptian researcher Amro Abdulmoneim pointed out that the organization’s inability to select a new leader exposes “real conflict” between supporters of certain personalities from different branches of the organization.

According to Abdulmoneim, the delay in announcing a new al-Qaeda leader has lessened the chances of Saif Al-Adel taking over the position. This comes despite Saif Al-Adel having been considered the most prominent pick to succeed Zawahiri.

Abdulmoneim explained that “voices opposing Saif Al-Adel believe that there are many leaders who are qualified to assume the responsibility of leading the organization during the coming period.”

Among the reasons behind Zawahiri’s followers rejecting Saif Al-Adel’s nomination is that he does not enjoy the charisma needed for leadership, said Abdulmoneim.

However, Abdulmoneim listed other factors behind why Saif Al-Adel’s candidacy is being reconsidered.

These factors include the candidate’s sharp temper, fanatical opinions, and differences with Zawahiri in some intellectual matters.



Israeli Soldiers Fire Near Diplomats on Visit to Occupied West Bank

This frame grab from AFPTV footage shows members of a diplomatic delegation from the European Union reacting after shots were fired as they gathered in the eastern entrance of Jenin camp during a visit to the city of Jenin, on May 21, 2025, amid an ongoing Israeli military offensive in the occupied West Bank. (AFPTV / AFP)
This frame grab from AFPTV footage shows members of a diplomatic delegation from the European Union reacting after shots were fired as they gathered in the eastern entrance of Jenin camp during a visit to the city of Jenin, on May 21, 2025, amid an ongoing Israeli military offensive in the occupied West Bank. (AFPTV / AFP)
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Israeli Soldiers Fire Near Diplomats on Visit to Occupied West Bank

This frame grab from AFPTV footage shows members of a diplomatic delegation from the European Union reacting after shots were fired as they gathered in the eastern entrance of Jenin camp during a visit to the city of Jenin, on May 21, 2025, amid an ongoing Israeli military offensive in the occupied West Bank. (AFPTV / AFP)
This frame grab from AFPTV footage shows members of a diplomatic delegation from the European Union reacting after shots were fired as they gathered in the eastern entrance of Jenin camp during a visit to the city of Jenin, on May 21, 2025, amid an ongoing Israeli military offensive in the occupied West Bank. (AFPTV / AFP)

The Israeli military said that it fired near a diplomatic delegation which it said deviated from an approved route in the occupied West Bank on Wednesday.

Diplomatic sources said European diplomats were part of the delegation to the West Bank city of Jenin.

The military said "the delegation deviated from the approved route and entered an area where they were not authorized to be" and that soldiers fired "warning shots to distance them away."

No injuries or damage were reported, the military said.

The EU's foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, said she had heard about the incident which happened on a visit by diplomats organized by the Palestinian Authority.

"We definitely call on Israel to investigate this incident and also held these accountable who are responsible for this and any threats on diplomats' lives," she said.

The Spanish Foreign Ministry said a Spaniard was among the group of diplomats, who was unhurt.

"We are in contact with other affected countries to jointly coordinate a response to what happened, which we strongly condemn," it said in a statement.

Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said on X that Israel's ambassador to Rome would be summoned to explain.

Footage on Israeli television showed individuals running to vehicles with diplomatic license plates as shots were heard in the distance.

The Palestinian Authority's Foreign Ministry said "the delegation was undertaking an official mission to observe and assess the humanitarian situation and document the ongoing violations perpetrated by" Israel. The ministry called the Israeli military's actions a violation of international law.

The Israeli military has killed dozens of Palestinians and destroyed many homes in the West Bank since it launched an operation in January in the city of Jenin to root out gunmen.  

Germany's foreign ministry condemned what it called "unprovoked firing" on Wednesday by the Israeli army.

The delegation included a German diplomat and a driver from the representative office in Ramallah, the ministry said in a statement.

The delegation was officially registered and was conducting diplomatic activities in coordination with both the Palestinian Authority and the Israeli Army, the statement said.

"The Israeli government must immediately clarify the circumstances and respect the inviolability of diplomats," it said.