Chief of Yemen's al-Qaida department threatens Trump, Elon Musk

[ad_1] DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — The chief of al-Qaida’s Yemen branch has threatened each U.S. President Donald Trump and billionaire Elon Musk over the Israel-Hamas war within the Gaza Strip in his first video message since taking up the group final yr.

The half-hour video message by Saad bin Atef al-Awlaki, which unfold on-line early Saturday by way of supporters of al-Qaida within the Arabian Peninsula, additionally included requires lone-wolf militants to assassinate leaders in Egypt, Jordan and the Gulf Arab states over the struggle, which has decimated Gaza.

The video of al-Awlaki’s speech confirmed photographs of Trump and Musk, in addition to U.S. Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Secretary of State Pete Hegseth. It additionally included photographs of logos of Musk’s companies, together with the electrical carmaker Tesla.

“There aren't any crimson traces after what occurred and is occurring to our folks in Gaza,” al-Awlaki stated. “Reciprocity is legit.”

Yemen’s al-Qaida department lengthy regarded as most harmful Although believed to be weakened lately attributable to infighting and suspected U.S. drone strikes killing its leaders, the group identified by the acronym AQAP had been thought-about probably the most harmful department of al-Qaida nonetheless working after the 2011 killing by U.S. Navy SEALs of founder Osama bin Laden , who masterminded the Sept. 11, 2001, assaults.

In 2022, a U.S. drone strike in Afghanistan killed bin Laden’s successor, Ayman al-Zawahri , who additionally helped plot 9/11. The Sept. 11 assaults then started a long time of struggle by the U.S. in Afghanistan and Iraq, and fomented the rise of the Islamic State group.

Al-Awlaki already has a $6 million U.S. bounty on his head, as Washington says al-Awlaki “has publicly referred to as for assaults in opposition to the US and its allies.” He changed AQAP chief Khalid al-Batarfi, whose loss of life was announced by the group in 2024.

Israel-Hamas struggle a spotlight of the Houthis as effectively AQAP seizing onto the Israel-Hamas struggle follows the efforts of Yemen’s Houthi rebels to do the identical. The Iranian-backed group has launched missile assaults on Israel and focused industrial vessels transferring via the Purple Sea hall, in addition to American warships. The U.S. Navy has described their marketing campaign in opposition to the Houthis as probably the most intense combat it has confronted since World Conflict II.

The Trump administration additionally launched its personal intense marketing campaign of strikes on the Houthis, which solely ended earlier than the president’s recent trip to the Middle East .

The Houthis’ worldwide profile rose because the group stays mired in Yemen’s long-stalemated struggle. Al-Awlaki could also be betting on the identical for his group, which U.N. specialists have estimated has between 3,000 and 4,000 energetic fighters and passive members. The group raises cash by robbing banks and cash alternate outlets, in addition to smuggling weapons, counterfeiting currencies and ransom operations, based on the U.N.

The Shiite Zaydi Houthis have beforehand denied working with AQAP, a Sunni extremist group. Nonetheless, AQAP focusing on of the Houthis has dropped lately, whereas the militants preserve attacking Saudi-led coalition forces who've battled the Houthis.

“Because the Houthis achieve recognition as leaders of the ‘Arab and Muslim world’s resistance’ in opposition to Israel, al-Awlaki seeks to problem their dominance by presenting himself as equally involved concerning the scenario in Gaza,” stated Mohammed al-Basha, a Yemen knowledgeable of 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.”

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