It’s been well known that Al Qaeda and ISIS don’t necessarily see eye to eye, despite being fundamental Islamic terrorist organisations, with Al Qaeda constantly distancing itself from ISIS in most of its rhetoric. Today though, they’ve fully come out and declared war on them after ISIS chief Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi declared himself leader of all Muslims – the fourth caliphate.

This didn’t sit well with Al Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri – who replaced Osama bin Laden four years ago – who recorded an audio message berating him on the eve of the anniversary of the 9/11 terror attacks:

We have endured a lot of harm from Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi and his brothers, and we preferred to respond with as little as possible, out of our concern to extinguish the fire of sedition.

But Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi and his brothers did not leave us a choice, for they have demanded that all the mujahideen reject their confirmed pledges of allegiance, and to pledge allegiance to them for what they claim of a caliphate.

Everyone was surprised by Baghdadi’s declaration anointing himself the fourth caliph in Islamic history. He has done this without consulting the Muslims.

Featured Image VIA

Image VIA 

If you’re keeping track of this, Baghdadi (pictured above) made the announcement late last year in a rare public speech in Mosul in Iraq:

I am the wali (leader) who presides over you, though I am not the best of you, so if you see that I am right, assist me.

If you see that I am wrong, advise me and put me on the right track, and obey me as long as I obey God in you.

Controversial right? Although there’s not actually any mention of war in al-Zawahiri’s (pictured below) statement, apparently this is enough to assume that the two factions are up against each other now, at least according to terrorism experts like Matthew Olsen:

Zawahiri until now has not been willing to openly condemn Baghdadi and ISIS – it highlights how deep the division is between al Qaeda leadership and ISIS.

It suggests that the differences are irreconcilable.

Had ISIS and al Qaeda realigned by joining forces, it would be terrible.

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Well yeah, no shit. For everyone else not involved with terrorism though, it’s an awesome day as these two idiotic forces can’t even figure out that if they joined together instead of fighting each other than they would have a better chance of overthrowing the western world.

As Olsen says ‘fighting each other just makes our job easier’. Maybe take the afternoon off dude, you deserve it – maybe watch this video of an ISIS suicide bomber blowing himself 100 feet in the air by accident because he let off his bomb too early for a giggle, too.