The terrorists attacked the World Trade Center and the Pentagon on September 11, 2001, primarily motivated by a combination of political and ideological reasons. The attacks were orchestrated by al-Qaeda, led by Osama bin Laden. According to bin Laden and al-Qaeda, key reasons for the attacks included retaliation for U.S. support of Israel, the presence of U.S. military bases in Saudi Arabia (which is home to Islam's holiest sites), and sanctions against Iraq. Bin Laden viewed these U.S. policies as oppressive acts against Muslims worldwide. He aimed to target symbols of America's economic and military power by attacking the Twin Towers and the Pentagon. Bin Laden also framed the attacks as a response to what he saw as American atrocities against Muslims in various conflicts, and as a tactic to deter further aggression by "making America taste some of what we tasted." Furthermore, the attacks were intended to provoke the U.S. into a broader war that would mobilize more Muslims worldwide to support al-Qaeda's cause.
In summary, the 9/11 attacks were driven by al-Qaeda's desire to punish the U.S. for its foreign policies in the Middle East, to strike symbolic targets representing U.S. power, and to ignite broader conflict to advance their ideological goals.
