U.S. State Department on Wednesday brushed aside Osama Bin Laden's call for "Jihad" on Israel over its ongoing offensive on the Gaza Strip, describing it as a propaganda effort by the al-Qaeda leader.
"We have heard it. I think that is just another propaganda effort", said State Department spokesperson Sean McCormack on Wednesday.
Earlier in the day, an Islamic website had posted an audio message from Bin Laden, declaring "Jihad" on Israel over its ongoing offensive on the Gaza Strip and inviting young Muslims from all over the world to participate in the holy war against the Jewish state.
In his 22-minute long audio message, the al-Qaeda leader also said that that the ongoing global financial crisis reflected the declining U.S. influence in world affairs.
The message was posted in a radical Islamic website that has posted other messages from Bin Laden in the past. Though the authenticity of the audio message could not be confirmed, it sounded similar to past messages credited to Bin Laden.
McCormack said Wednesday that Bin Laden's criticism of Muslim clerics, Israel, the United States, and president-elect Barrack Obama in his latest message reflects his "isolation" caused by the U.S.-led efforts to capture him.
"I also take it as a sign that al-Qaeda has largely been driven from the heart of the Middle East...yet it is also an indication that al-Qaeda and bin Laden are still out there and that continued vigilance to protect against the threat that still exists is required", McCormack added.
Bin Laden has been in hiding ever since the U.S. led coalition force invaded Afghanistan in the wake of the 9/11 attacks. He believed to be in the lawless region of northwestern Pakistan and his capture still remains one of the top priorities of the U.S. government.
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June 12, 2026 17:14 ET Major central bank action was the focus this week in economic news. The European Central Bank became the first major central bank to move in response to the rising inflationary pressures in the backdrop of the conflict in the Middle East. In North America, the U.S. inflation and trade data as well as Canada’s central bank decision gained attention. The Chinese trade data was the main news in Asia.