What was the source of al-Qaeda’s hostility toward the West?

Al-Qaeda’s hostility toward the West was rooted in Western involvement in Middle Eastern affairs, especially the presence of U.S. forces in the region and support for governments it opposed. The other choices do not describe the main source of its hostility: al-Qaeda was not removed from power, and its designation as a terrorist organization or the Soviet war in Afghanistan does not explain the central grievance.

AI-written and checked against the verified answer.