Al Qaeda Taps Al-Zawahiri As Next Leader

Al Qaeda has chosen Ayman al-Zawahiri as its next leader, according to a statement making the rounds on jihadist websites.

“The general command of al-Qaeda announces, after consultations, the appointment of Sheikh Ayman al-Zawahiri as head of the group,” the statement, which was translated by the news network Al-Jazeera, reads. “We seek with the aid of God to call for the religion of truth and incite our nation to fight … by carrying out jihad against the apostate invaders.”

Al-Zawahiri’s apparent ascension comes shortly after the death of the terror network’s figurehead, Osama bin Laden.