Saad bin Atef al-Awlaki, who is needed by the US, challenges Houthi dominance of Arab and Muslim world’s resistance motion.
The chief of al-Qaeda’s Yemen department has focused US President Donald Trump and tech billionaire Elon Musk over United States backing for Israel’s ongoing warfare on the Gaza Strip and its besieged Palestinian inhabitants.
“There aren’t any purple traces after what occurred and is occurring to our individuals in Gaza,” stated Saad bin Atef al-Awlaki in a half-hour video message that was unfold on-line Saturday by supporters of al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), the Yemeni department of the armed group.
“Reciprocity is professional,” he stated.
Al-Awlaki’s video message additionally included requires so-called lone wolves to assassinate leaders in Egypt, Jordan and the Gulf Arab states over the war, which has decimated Gaza, killing no less than 54,772 Palestinians over the previous 20 months.
The message featured photographs of Trump and Musk, US Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth, in addition to logos of Musk’s companies – together with electrical carmaker Tesla.
Born in 2009 from the merger of al-Qaeda’s Yemeni and Saudi factions, AQAP is totally distinct from Yemen’s Houthi insurgent group, which controls many of the nation and agreed to a ceasefire with the US earlier this month.
AQAP grew and developed amid the chaos of Yemen’s warfare, which has pitted the Houthis towards a Saudi-led coalition backing the federal government since 2015.
Al-Awlaki grew to become the group’s chief in 2024, changing predecessor Khalid Batarfi, who died that 12 months.
He already has a $6m US bounty on his head, having, as Washington places it, “publicly referred to as for assaults towards america and its allies”.
Although believed to be weakened lately resulting from infighting and suspected US drone strikes killing its leaders, the group had been thought-about essentially the most harmful department of al-Qaeda nonetheless working for the reason that US killing of founder Osama bin Laden in 2011.
United Nations specialists estimate AQAP has between 3,000 and 4,000 energetic fighters and passive members, claiming that it raises cash by robbing banks and cash change retailers, in addition to by smuggling weapons, counterfeiting currencies and conducting ransom operations.
The Houthis have beforehand denied working with AQAP, although the latter’s focusing on of the Houthis has dropped lately, whereas its fighters preserve attacking the Saudi-led coalition forces.
Now, with its give attention to Israel’s warfare on Gaza, AQAP seems to be following the lead of the Houthi group, which has launched missile assaults on Israel and focused business vessels transferring by means of the Pink Sea in solidarity with Palestinians below Israeli fireplace.
“Because the Houthis acquire recognition as leaders of the ‘Arab and Muslim world’s resistance’ towards Israel, al-Awlaki seeks to problem their dominance by presenting himself as equally involved in regards to the scenario in Gaza,” stated Mohammed al-Basha, a Yemen professional with the Basha Report threat advisory agency.
“For a nationwide safety and international coverage group more and more disengaged from Yemen, this video is a transparent reminder: Yemen nonetheless issues,” he stated.
