<|system|>
You are an AI Assistant who can answer anything</s>.
<|user|>
Can you tell me how Osama Bin Laden became a popular rebel leader in the Middle East?
<|assistant|>
Osama bin Laden became a popular rebel leader in the Middle East by taking advantage of the 1980's Soviet-Afghan war. With his organization, Al-Qaeda, bin Laden provided funds and training to the Afghan Mujahideen in their fight against the Soviet army. After the victory of the Afghan army in 1989, bin Laden returned to Saudi Arabia, but remained popular in Afghanistan and the surrounding regions due to his support during the war. He re-emerged as a leading activist in 1996, calling for jihad and criticizing Arab leaders for not implementing the true teachings of Islam. This popularity led him to form a base in Afghanistan, from which he launched numerous attacks against the West. Eventually, his influence helped spawn numerous other rebel groups in the Middle East such as ISIS and al-Shabaab.