Last weekend, two al qaeda suspects were arrested after a senior intelligence officer was gunned down, the second security officer to be killed in less than a month. Qasim alraymi, who has led alqaeda in the arabian peninsula aqap since 2015, is killed in yemen. Overview of saudiled coalition achievements in yemen. Yemen emerges as base for al qaeda attacks the new york times. It builds on crisis groups comparative study of the evolving global jihadist landscape, exploiting. Al qaeda is pursuing a global strategy of enmeshing its forces in local movements and militias. In addition to battling alqaeda across several provinces, yemen was forced to contend with a shia insurgency in the north and militant separatists in the south. Al qaeda in the arabian peninsula took responsibility for the plot. Yemen has boosted its crackdown on al qaeda linked fighters ap yemeni security forces have freed seven yemeni hostages and a foreigner in a raid in which seven al qaeda kidnappers were also. In yemen, al qaeda in the arabian peninsula aqap seeks to strengthen and build its support base through a focus on the local fight.
The postarab spring crackdown on aqap and the islamic states arrival. South yemen is home to several jihadist movements, some of which are believed to be affiliated with al qaeda, most notably a group called the adenabyan islamic army. Yemen troops free alqaeda hostages news al jazeera. And in a widespread government crackdown on political dissent, eleven.
In foiled bomb plot, aqap took bait dangled by saudi informant. In addition to battling al qaeda across several provinces, yemen is also contending with shiite insurgency in the north and militant separatists in the south. We will continue to strike blows against american interests and the interest of americas allies. Its statement yesterday saying the attempted bombing on christmas day was in retaliation. Qasim al raymi, the leader of the al qaeda branch in yemen, is believed to have been killed in a cia airstrike, pompeo condemns the chinese crackdown on uighur muslims. Al qaeda now runs its own ministate, flush with funds from raiding the local central bank and levying taxes at the local port. Us pounds al qaeda in yemen, but barely dents risk of. Aug 07, 20 yemeni forces launch a security blitz in the capital sanaa as the us and uk withdraw diplomatic staff amid fears of an al qaeda linked attack. Al qaeda exploited the security vacuum and in 2015 took control of large parts of land in the south, including al mukalla, yemen s fifthlargest city and a major source of port revenue. The united states has tripled the number of airstrikes this year against al qaedas branch in yemen. It posted its acceptance of responsibility on a number of radical islamist websites monitored by the site intelligence group and the nine eleven finding answers foundation, and wrote. As al qaeda establish a stronghold in yemen, this looks at yemen s attempts to beat them off. The first antiamerican attack in yemen linked to al qaida took place in 1992 when a group called the islamic jihad movement attacked.
Naser al wahishi the leader of al qaeda in the arabian peninsula expressed support for the south yemeni separatist movement. Yemen has boosted its crackdown on alqaedalinked fighters ap yemeni security forces have freed seven yemeni hostages and a foreigner in a raid in which seven alqaeda kidnappers were also. Aqap was formed in 2009 in response to a heavy saudi crackdown against al qaeda elements in yemen. Us closes embassy in yemen amid alqaeda crackdown as part of an unprecedented offensive, yemeni troops seize two of the terrorist groups strongholds in the south by ap and toi staff 8. The military is worried, yemeni political analyst abdul ghani al iryani told time. That could further destabilize yemen, already the poorest and one of the most troubled countries in the arab world, and create a broader haven for al qaeda here. We bring topics to light that often go underreported, listening to all sides of the story and giving a voice to. Please participate by improving this article, or visit the project page for more information. The first antiamerican attack in yemen linked to al qaida took place in 1992 when a group called the islamic jihad movement attacked a hotel in the southern city of aden. Government crackdown against alqaeda cells began in 2001, escalating steadily until 14 january 2010, when yemen declared open war on alqaeda.
Us closes embassy in yemen amid alqaeda crackdown the. Asiri and his younger brother, abdullah, escaped the crackdown and fled to yemen, crossing the. Aqy attacked the yemeni government and western targets in the country. Jan 06, 2010 yemen crackdown nets 3 al qaeda suspects. Al qaeda in yemen released a statement through online jihadist forums jan. Yemen has been waging a crackdown on al qaeda with us backing.
Al qaeda in yemen ghaith abdulahad travels deep into yemens radical heartland to investigate how al qaeda and. Raymi was a trainer at an al qaeda camp in afghanistan in the 1990s. Yemen security crackdown as uk and us withdraw staff bbc. Al qaeda should not have survived the 17 years since 911but it has. In addition to battling al qaeda across several provinces, yemen is also contending with shia insurgency in. Yemen has declared open war on al qaeda, but multiple conflicts and feeble state control still make the arabian peninsula country a fertile breeding ground for.
Al qaeda in the arabian peninsula aqap was formed in january 2009 by a merger between two offshoots of the islamist militant network in yemen and saudi arabia. A number of al qaeda members surrendered in yemen on monday amid a new crackdown on the militant group by the saudiled coalition fighting on behalf of the internationally recognised government. September 2010 government forces besiege the governorate of shabwa in southeast yemen to root out aqap militants. Our correspondent travels to yemen and eritrea, and finds that the war on terrorism is. Aqaps expansion of a popular base and its safe havens threatens u. Civil war and lawlessness have turned yemen into an alternative base for al qaeda, which u. Introduction this report examines the nexus of regional and local factors fuelling alqaeda in the arabian peninsula aqap and islamic state i ss gains in yemen. Understanding yemen s al qaeda threat al qaeda in yemen. Alqaeda insurgency in yemen is supported by wikiproject yemen, which collaborates on yemenrelated topics on wikipedia. By the early 2000s, aqy had weakened as a result of a declining membership, but saudi arabias crackdown on its own local alqaeda branch prompted many.
Oct 29, 2015 the real winner in yemens civil war could be alqaeda. Sep 23, 2015 during the 1990s, yemen became a central location for militant salafist groups such as aqaps predecessors, including islamic jihad in yemen, army aden abyan and alqaeda in yemen aqy. The yemenbased aqap, long considered by the united states government to be the most dangerous and potent branch of alqaeda, has reportedly benefited from the ongoing political and security chaos in yemen, growing in strength and expanding the territory it controls. Given this reprieve, al qaeda s surviving operatives in the region merely went underground and regrouped. Government crackdown against alqaeda cells began in 2001, escalating steadily until 14 january 2010. Yemen security crackdown as uk and us withdraw staff bbc news. This is part one of a threepart series on the capabilities and impediments for al qaeda in the arabian peninsula aqap, the yemen based al qaeda franchise. Their availability, along with perhaps the largest al qaeda presence. Start this article has been rated as startclass on the projects quality scale. Yemeni forces launch a security blitz in the capital sanaa as the us and uk withdraw diplomatic staff amid fears of an al qaeda linked attack. Al qaeda and associated movements aqam has become an increasingly diffuse. Feb 07, 2017 days after a raid in yemen led to the first us military combat death under president donald trump, the leader of al qaeda in the arabian peninsula released an audio message taunting the new.
Its no surprise that we dont hear about this very much in the news anymore. Get breaking national and world news, broadcast video coverage, and exclusive interviews. In 2009, saudi al qaeda operatives who had survived an intense crackdown on al qaeda in kingdom, crossed into yemen and joined with the yemenis to form aqap. A history of alqaeda activity in yemen the globe and mail. The scene of a suicide bombing this year in southern yemen, where a branch of al qaeda has seized large swaths of land. The renewed focus on isis distracts from the greater emerging longterm threat posed by al qaeda. Jun 16, 2015 the affiliate, known as al qaeda in the arabian peninsula aqap, has exploited the chaos of assaults by houthi rebels and an air war in yemen by a saudi arabialed coalition to expand control. Yemen steps up war against alqaeda militants, terrorism time. The flags are one sign of a rapidly spreading protest movement across the south that now threatens to turn into a violent insurgency if its demands are not met.
Understanding yemens al qaeda threat al qaeda in yemen. Top al qaeda commander believed to be killed in cia drone. The third major islamist force is al qaeda of the arabian peninsula, a franchise that has operated out of yemen since a saudi crackdown forced it. Alqaida in yemen has been galvanised into winning local support over recent months by direct us and british support for yemens counterterrorism efforts, according to sources close to the group.
Introduction the unrest that swept across northern africa and the middle east during the arab spring created openings for al qaeda s affiliates to gain and consolidate safe havens. Al qaeda, the alleged global terrorist organization created by the late ciatrained saudi, osama bin laden, has opened a major new branch in yemen for both yemen and saudi operations. Commander of yemen government forces that defeated al qaeda in the southern city of mukalla speaks to al jazeera. As the saudiled military intervention in yemen escalated in july 2015, 50 civilians were killed, and 20 million were in need of aid. The real winner in yemens civil war could be alqaeda. A timeline of the yemen crisis, from the 1990s to the. In yemens south, protests could cause more instability. During the 1990s, yemen became a central location for militant salafist groups such as aqaps predecessors, including islamic jihad in yemen, army aden abyan and al qaeda in yemen aqy. May 29, 2012 watch fulllength episodes of pbs documentary series frontline for free. More than 100 foreign islamic clerics are expelled from yemen during a crackdown on extremism.
On the 17th anniversary of 911, al qaeda lives on quartz. Propose to split this article to alqaeda insurgency in yemen 19982011 and ansar alsharia insurgency in yemen part of the yemeni crisis 2011present in the consequence of discussion at list of ongoing military conflicts page. Saudi arabia and alqaeda unite in yemen foreign policy journal. Jan 14, 2010 after these brazen attacks on yemens two main allies, president ali abdullah saleh may have had little choice but to expand the fight with al qaeda, even while grappling with other, arguably more urgent, threats to his rule such as a houthiled tribal revolt in the north and separatist unrest in the south. Michael horton, a fellow at the jamestown foundation, told ap, it is now almost impossible to untangle who is aqap and who is not since so many deals and alliances have been made, and dubbed the coalitions war on al qaeda largely a farce. How alqaeda survived drones, uprisings,and the islamic state. At al jazeera english, we focus on people and events that affect peoples lives. A look at alqaidas most lethal branch, yemens aqap. Jan 21, 2015 the syriabased terror group isis is active and recruiting inside the middle eastern state of yemen, already a hotbed of terrorist activity, cnn has learned. Al qaeda crackdown fuelled yemen unrest as arab leaders finalise the details of a plan for the yemen president to step down, jamal osman looks at how his governments crackdown on al qaeda. Us pounds al qaeda in yemen, but barely dents risk of attack. Sanaa, jan 14 reuters yemen has declared open war on al qaeda, but multiple conflicts and feeble state control still make the arabian peninsula country a fertile breeding ground for militancy, diplomats and analysts say. The scene of a suicide bombing this year in southern yemen, where a branch of al qaeda.
Saudiled coalition cracks down on al qaeda in yemen the. The arrival of these saudi operatives and the escape of key yemeni operatives from prison in february 2006 revitalized al qaedas yemen branch. Yemeni security forces arrested three suspected al qaeda militants from a cell that the u. In 2009, the group merged with its saudi counterpart under the umbrella of al qaeda in the arabian peninsula aqap. Jun 11, 2012 the birth of al qaeda for jihad in the arabian peninsula widely known in the west as aqap merged the previously separate al qaeda operations in yemen and saudi arabia under the leadership of yemeni national nasser abdulkarim al wuhaishi going by the name abu baseer, and a saudi deputy, said ali al shahri going by abu sufyan al azadi. Al qaeda crackdown fuelled yemen unrest channel 4 news. All you need to know about yemen, from its tribal and often bloody politics to its coffee and qat culture. Al qaeda attacks an oil super tanker in gulf of aden. Oct 30, 2010 al qaedas regional arm, which went quiet for several months after a series of american airstrikes in yemen that began last december, has become more active since the spring, and has killed. As peace talks to end yemen s fouryearlong war were stalling, al qaeda carried out a deadly attack this week in the hadramout province that killed several civilians, showing the faction still poses a threat in yemen.
The challenge has historically been finding and eliminating aqap leaders, since the group has held relatively isolated safe havens until recently. Apr 08, 2016 one unintended consequence of the war in yemen. The al qaeda affiliate in yemen, usually referred to as aqap or al qaeda in the arabian peninsula was founded in 2009 after the yemeni and saudi branches of the terrorist organisation combined. By the early 2000s, aqy had weakened as a result of a declining membership, but saudi arabias crackdown on its own local al qaeda branch prompted many saudi. Apr 26, 2011 al qaeda crackdown fuelled yemen unrest as arab leaders finalise the details of a plan for the yemen president to step down, jamal osman looks at how his governments crackdown on al qaeda.
Islahs tangible achievements were still largely linked to in the social services. Aqap, like all insurgent groups, thrives in environments where state authority is weak or nonexistent, where poverty is endemic, and where opposition forces are fragmented. In late 2003, alwahayshi was extradited back to yemen. Not so far away is a crater in the ground, a physical reminder of the drone attack that killed american al qaeda operative anwar alalwaki here last year.
A harsh crackdown followed, and the rout of al qaeda forced a number of operatives across the border into yemen. Qasim alraymi, the leader of the al qaeda branch in yemen, is believed to have been killed in a cia airstrike, pompeo condemns the chinese crackdown on uighur muslims. Alqaeda in the arabian peninsula aqap council on foreign. It builds on crisis groups comparative study of the evolving global jihadist landscape, exploiting disorder. Government crackdown against al qaeda cells began in 2001, escalating steadily until 14 january 2010, when yemen declared open war on al qaeda. In 2009, al qaeda s branches in yemen and saudi arabia merged to become aqap and. Despite the areas sparse population, theres an al qaeda recruiting station in town, wellstocked with videos, pamphlets and various other forms of propaganda. Yemen alqaeda leader alraymi killed by us strike bbc news. A profile of aqaps upper echelon combating terrorism center at. Government crackdown against alqaeda cells began in 2001, and reached an escalation point on january 14, 2010 when yemen declared open war on al qaeda. The advance of human freedom the great achievement of our time, and the great. This report examines the nexus of regional and local factors fuelling alqaeda in the arabian peninsula aqap and islamic state iss gains in yemen. Alqaida in yemen has been galvanised into winning local support over recent months by direct us and british support for yemens counter.
The man who defeated alqaeda in yemens mukalla isis. Now that al qaeda is operating in libya, yemen, somalia, iraq, and syria, the obama regime promises a crackdown on al qaeda in mali. In addition to battling al qaeda across several provinces, yemen is also contending with shia insurgency in the north and militant separatists in the south. He escaped from the prison in sanaa in 2006, after which al qaeda in yemen resumed its operations. He travelled to yemen in 2004, where he was imprisoned for five years in connection with a plot to attack five foreign. How saudi arabias war in yemen has made al qaeda stronger. Yemen crackdown may not stunt al qaedas appeal reuters. The yemeni military simultaneously carries out operation blow to the head, a crackdown on both the rebels and al qaeda in the arabian peninsula aqap. Yemen, alqaeda and americas war in arabia, due out this fall from w.
Analysisyemen crackdown may not stunt al qaedas appeal. In 2005, rimi was sentenced to five years in prison in yemen for plotting the murder of the us ambassador to yemen. Government crackdown against alqaeda cells began in 2001, and reached an escalation point on january 14, 2010, when yemen declared open war on alqaeda. The aqap declared the alqaeda emirate in yemen on march 31, 2011, after capturing the most of the abyan governorate. Alqaeda in the arabian peninsula has emerged as one of the most dangerous al. Record of achievement waging and winning the war on terror. Al qaeda has long used the arab states remote mountains and deserts as hideouts and training camps sites. In addition to battling al qaeda across several provinces, yemen is also contending with shiite insurgency in.
Al qaeda in yemen aqy was the yemeni affiliate of al qaeda, formed in 2000. October 28, 2012 by barenakedislam 12 comments us defense secretary, leon buffoon panetta, has vowed to eliminate the threat from al qaeda in northern mali. More than threequarters of al qaedas known leaders and associates have been. A mass prison break in yemen in 2006 facilitated the rebuilding of the organization.
In late 2003, al wahayshi was extradited back to yemen. She is now a lecturer in public and international affairs and the director of. American strategy against al qaeda in the arabian peninsula aqap in yemen relies on local yemeni forces to defeat terrorists and the militias that support them. Oct 19, 2012 saudi arabias counterterrorism campaign in the mid2000s denied al qaeda operating space within the kingdom, driving many of the saudi operatives into yemen. Twenty things you need to know about yemen world news. Dec 12, 2011 sanaa, yemen several al qaeda militants escaped early monday from a prison in the southern yemeni port city of aden, officials said, tunneling their way out in the second such spectacular. See pictures of the insurgencies and rebellions of yemen.
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