Al-Qaeda has issued a statement naming Ayman al-Zawahiri as its new chief following the death of Osama bin Laden. The 59-year-old, Egyptian-born Zawahiri has long served as the group’s second-in-command and was widely expected to replace bin Laden. Al-Qaeda said it would continue a holy war against the United States and Israel under Zawahiri’s leadership. Zawahiri is believed by some experts to have overseen the execution of the 9/11 attacks.