The reason for the September 11 attacks (9/11) was primarily rooted in the motives of the Islamist militant group al-Qaeda, led by Osama bin Laden. Key reasons included:
- Opposition to U.S. foreign policies in the Muslim world, such as support for Israel, military presence in Saudi Arabia, and sanctions against Iraq. Bin Laden viewed U.S. support for Israel and its actions in the Middle East as a major grievance, describing it as a crime that must be avenged
- Retaliation for Western military interventions and support of regimes perceived as oppressive to Muslims, including in Somalia, Chechnya, Kashmir, and Lebanon
- The desire to provoke the U.S. into a broader conflict to incite a pan-Islamist revolution and unite Muslims against the West. Bin Laden and al-Qaeda sought to spark a reaction that would lead to increased U.S. military involvement in Muslim countries, which they believed would radicalize more Muslims and destabilize regimes friendly to the West
- The attacks were also a strategic expression of jihad declared by bin Laden in the 1990s, framed as resistance against what he saw as imperialist aggression by the U.S. in the Islamic world
In summary, the 9/11 attacks were motivated by a combination of political, religious, and strategic factors centered on opposition to U.S. influence and actions in the Middle East and broader Muslim world, as articulated by al- Qaeda leadership
