Difference Between Al Qaeda and IRA

Al Qaeda and IRA (Irish Republican Army) are two insurgent groups that have gained popularity through militancy against state, countries that assert their influence such as the United States and Europe.

The biggest difference between Al Qaeda and IRA is ideology and religion. Al Qaeda is a Muslim insurgent group fighting against America and European influence in different countries. On the other hand, IRA is a Christian group that remained active before the creation Republic of Ireland.

Al Qaeda believes in theocracy and is working to build a global Islamic government (popularly known in Islamic world as Khilafah or Caliphate). IRA does not believe in Christian rule over the world but its sole objective was to liberate Ireland from the influence of United Kingdom or The Great Britain.

Al Qaeda is still operating in several countries of the world, and is gaining ground in places like Yemen, Sudan and Somalia. IRA is a defunct entity now as it marginalized in 1969.

Instructions

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    Al Qaeda

    Al Qaeda was formed after the Soviet withdrawal from Afghanistan in the mid 1990’s. Osama Bin Laden, who was assassinated by American troops in Pakistan in 2011, created the group with the intention of expanding the scope of war against the west. Russian invasion brought many Arab fighters to Afghanistan and Bin Laden became their spiritual leader, acting as a mentor on the warfront and ideological ground. Al Qaeda is currently being headed by Ayman Al Zawahiri, whose hideouts have remained unknown to date (just like his predecessor Osama).

    Al Qaeda has distanced itself from other Muslim militant groups like the Taliban, Hamas in Palestine and other smaller factions operating in Kashmir, Chechnya and Yemen. Al Qaeda espouses a stricter brand of Islam, focusing on issues like global Islamic government.

    The group is heavily inspired by people like Abdullah Azzam who came to Afghanistan after the invasion of Russia. Al Qaeda’s war tactics have been brutal in the past few years, using vehicle borne improvised explosive devices (VBIEDs) against their targets. The group runs several training camps in lawless terrains of Somalia, Sudan and Afghanistan.

    Image courtesy: foreignpolicy.com

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    IRA

    IRA rose to fame as revolutionary militants that opposed the British rule in Ireland. IRA was formed in 1922 and its major objective was to create an independent Irish Republic, which was only possible by toppling the British Empire in the country and driving out its troops.

    The IRA started off as small insurgent group loosely aligned with several other smaller factions, but it soon found a solid foothold in the country and people started volunteering for it. The group waged a long guerrilla war against British troops and caused severe losses to British interests.

    Image courtesy: 25.media.tumblr.com

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