JIHADIST AND ETHNO-NATIONALIST TERRORISM AND VIOLENT EXTREMISM | SITUATION Core al-Qaeda wants to regain its appeal The most recent attack on European soil for which al-Qaeda claimed responsibility dates back to January 2015; it was targeted at the editorial offices of ‘Charlie Hebdo’ in Paris (France). The fact that al-Qaeda has largely failed to carry out any successful high-profile actions against Western interests has weakened its position vis-à-vis competing jihadist groups. Core al-Qaeda's image was further weakened when Jabhat al-Nusra distanced itself from it in summer 2016. While ‘Islamic State’ has lost its caliphate, core al-Qaeda is working to recover the considerable appeal it once had in the glo­ bal jihadist movement. To this end, it is trying to establish Hamza Bin Laden, the son of its killed former leader Osama Bin Laden, as a future leadership figure. Provinces and affiliates of ‘Islamic State’ and al-Qaeda The degree of cooperation between the core structures of ‘Islamic State’ and al-Qaeda and their respective regional affiliates varies. The 36 SI TUATIO N R E P O RT 2018 | F I S affiliates essentially have a high degree of autonomy and for the most part pursue a local agenda. A few affiliates, however, have both the ambition and the necessary capabilities and resources to pursue international jihadist goals. The local affiliates of ‘Islamic State’ in Egypt, for example, not only carry out regular attacks on Egyptian security forces, Copts and other Muslims, but also occasionally attack international targets, an example being the bombing of a Russian passenger plane in October 2015. North and West Africa In Egypt, the Maghreb and West Africa, several jihadist groups have pledged allegiance either to ‘Islamic State’ or to al-Qaeda / al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM). Libya continues to play an important role for ‘Islamic State’, despite the complete loss of territories which had been temporarily under the latter's control. Whereas ‘Islamic State’ has lost all the territories it controlled in Libya, AQIM has succeeded in maintaining its influence in parts of Libya.