Al-Qaeda in Iraq (AQ-I), also known as Al-Qaeda in Mesopotamia, is a violent militant Sunni insurgent group operating in and outside of Iraq, didn't exist until after the 2003 U.S.-led invasion." "Al-Qaida in Iraq didn't emerge until 2004. While it is inspired by Osama bin Laden's violent ideology, there's no evidence it is under the control of the terrorist leader or his top aides, who are believed to be hiding in tribal regions of Pakistan bordering Afghanistan."