The leader of Al Qaeda posted a video online on Wednesday vowing to try setting prisoners of Guantanamo Bay free, USA TODAY reported.
Ayman al-Zawahri, who spoke in the 22-minute message, expressed that the hunger strike at the prison represents the "odious" face of America and has inspired Al Qaeda to set their "brothers" free, including Khalid Sheikh Mohammed -- the mastermind behind the 9/11 attacks.
Earlier this year, prisoners at the U.S. detention center in Cuba started a hunger strike to protest their conditions and confinement. Recent reports cited that most of the prisoners have ended their fast.
"We pledge God that we will spare no efforts to set them free along with all our prisoners, on top of them Omar Abdel Rahman, Aafia Siddiqui, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and every oppressed Muslim everywhere," al-Zawahri said.
He did not elaborate on how they would attempt to free the inmates. In the past, militants have tried negotiating to free Abdel Rahman and Siddiqui in exchange for freeing hostages. Abdel Rahman, a blind Egyptian sheik, was convicted of plotting to blow up New York City landmarks and Siddiqui, a Pakistani scientist, was convicted of shooting at two U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan.
Zawahri also condemned the use of drones by the U.S., which he warned will not remain ignored:
"You are leaving a legacy of hatred and demands for vengeance from you over your crimes," he said in the video.
Although the authenticity of the online message could not be confirmed, the website it was published on is commonly used by Al Qaeda. The warning also came quickly after a string of attacks on prisons Libya, Iraq, and Pakistan.
In June, al-Zawahri sent a message directed to Sunni Muslims, urging them to devote their lives, money, and expertise to battling Syria's President, Bashar Assad.
