Riyadh
Al Qaida is plotting new attacks on U.S. soil through operatives who don’t meet the traditional terrorist profile, FBI and CIA officials told the Los Angeles Times this week. The unnamed officials, who are investigating the terror attacks that killed 35 people in the Saudi capital last month, said they believed al Qaida had adapted its tactics to evade global policing efforts. The terrorist network has recruited nontraditional operatives—those that don’t fit the profile of an unmarried, middle-class, young Arab man—so they can gain entry into the U.S. “They have done their homework,” said one official, “and figured out ways to get people in.” Analyses of recent attacks in Saudi Arabia and Morocco indicate that al Qaida strategy is still being directed by the fugitive Osama bin Laden and his top deputy, Ayman al-Zawahiri.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
The UK-made Storm Shadow missiles Ukraine is using in RussiaThe Explainer Ukraine reportedly deployed the long-range British missiles this week, following a tense meeting between Zelenskyy and Trump
-
Dry skin, begone! 8 products to keep your skin supple while travelingThe Week Recommends Say goodbye to dry and hello to hydration
-
Crossword: October 23, 2025The Week's daily crossword
