New Bin Laden Statement Expected Soon
It is unclear if the new statement will be a video or an audio release. However, the old picture of bin Laden used on the banner may be an indication that it is an audio. Bin Laden is expected to address the Israeli-Palestinian issue, as the statement is entitled "Message to the Western People: The Reasons for the Conflict…On the 60th Anniversary of the Establishment of the Occupier State of Israel."
As is the case with all of bin Laden's and Ayman al Zawahri's statements in recent years, the release was produced by the terror group's media wing al Sahab.
Al Qaeda officials' statements are usually posted within one or two days of the announcement.
This will be Bin Laden's 26th statement since the Sept. 11th attacks, including four videos and 21 audio messages. Bin Laden's last statement was an audio tape released on March 20th. Al Zawahri's last statement was a video released on April 22nd.