Ayman al-Zawahiri was an Egyptian physician and a prominent figure in global terrorism. He became the leader of al-Qaeda after the death of Osama bin Laden in 2011. Al-Zawahiri played a significant role in the organization's operations and ideology, advocating for jihad against perceived enemies of Islam. Born on June 19, 1951, in Cairo, Egypt, al-Zawahiri was involved in militant activities from a young age. He co-founded the Egyptian Islamic Jihad and later merged it with al-Qaeda. Al-Zawahiri was known for his writings and speeches, which promoted extremist views and called for attacks against Western nations.