Al-Jihad, Egyptian Islamic Jihad, Jihad Group, Islamic Jihad, Vanguards of Conquest.

The group historically operated from Cairo, but most of its most recent operations have been centered outside Egypt. Most of the Al-Jihad network is located in Afghanistan, Lebanon, Pakistan, the U.K. and Yemen.

Al-Jihad's historical goal is the overthrow of the Egyptian state and the establishment of an Islamic theocracy.

Exact numbers are unknown. Al-Jihad is believed to have several hundred hard-core members.

Al-Qaida and Al-Jihad united in 2001; the two groups share resources and links to other groups. Al-Jihad may receive independent funding through Islamic charities, front business and non-governmental organizations.

During the 1970s and 1980s, Al-Jihad attacked senior Egyptian government officials, including members of the Cabinet. It also conducted car bombings against U.S. and Egyptian facilities in Egypt and other countries.

The original Al-Jihad group was responsible for the 1981 assassination of Egyptian President Anwar Sadat. It also claimed responsibility for the attempted assassinations in 1993 of Interior Minister Hassan al-Alfi and Prime Minister Atef Sedky.

Al-Jihad was formed in the late 1970s as an extremist offshoot of the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood. It dedicated itself to the overthrow of Egypt's secular government and the establishment of an Islamic republic.

Ayman al-Zawahiri is the leader of Al-Jihad and was Osama bin Laden's chief lieutenant until his alleged capture by Iran. In 2001, the two groups merged. Al-Zawahiri reportedly leads the International Front for Jihad Against Jews and Crusaders, a coalition formed in 1998 from Al-Jihad, Al-Qaida and other Islamic terrorist groups.

In the 1980s, Egyptian authorities launched an aggressive campaign to disrupt Al-Jihad. The government jailed, tortured and executed Al-Jihad members. During that time, Al-Jihad split into two factions, one led by al-Zawahiri, and one led by Abbud al-Zumar, who was later imprisoned. Ahmad Husayn Agiza now leads al-Zumar's faction, the Vanguards of Conquest.

Al-Zawahiri traveled to Afghanistan several times in the 1980s to help the mujahedin in their fight against the Soviet Union. In the mid-1980s, he set up his base of operations in the mountains of Afghanistan.

New Al-Jihad cells were trained in the terrorist camps of Afghanistan and later sent to Egypt for operations. Al-Jihad cells are small and isolated, and members are usually between the ages of 15 and 30.

Al-Zawahiri is now in hiding, possibly in Pakistan. He is widely considered to be the second-in-command of Al-Qaida, behind Osama bin Laden, and the operational head of the group.

The Egyptian government began a ruthless crackdown on Al-Jihad, with the group splitting into two factions.

Nov. 25: A car bomb detonated near Egyptian Prime Minister Atef Sedky's motorcade. Sedky was unhurt, but one person was killed and 18 were wounded.

November: Terrorists bombed the Egyptian embassy in Islamabad, Pakistan. Al-Jihad members are believed to have played a major role in the attack. 

August: The U.S. Embassy in Albania was shut down due to a "serious threat of a terrorist attack," according to the U.S. State Dept. A number of suspected militants were arrested for the plot, many believed to have close ties to Al-Jihad.