Yemen’s al-Qaeda Branch Threatens Trump, Musk Over Gaza War
Yemen’s al-Qaeda branch leader, Saad bin Atef al-Awlaki, has threatened US President Donald Trump and billionaire Elon Musk in a recent video, invoking responses to the Gaza conflict. He called for targeted attacks on Arab leaders and highlighted AQAP’s position amid intensifying regional conflicts, particularly with the Houthi rebels. With a $6 million bounty on his head, al-Awlaki’s dangerous rhetoric signals the group’s attempts to regain relevance in the geopolitical landscape of the Middle East.
Yemen’s al-Qaeda branch has issued a striking threat towards US President Donald Trump and billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk amid the ongoing war in Gaza. Saad bin Atef al-Awlaki, the leader of al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), delivered his first video message since assuming leadership last year. This half-hour video began circulating online to supporters on Saturday, summoning lone-wolf militants to consider acts of violence against notable leaders in Egypt, Jordan, and Gulf states as a direct reaction to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
The footage showcased images of Trump, Musk, Vice President JD Vance, and Secretaries of State Marco Rubio and Pete Hegseth, as well as Musk’s corporate logos, including those of Tesla. Al-Awlaki proclaimed, “There are no red lines after what happened and is happening to our people in Gaza. Reciprocity is legitimate.” Despite going through a rough patch lately due to internal disputes and US drone strikes targeting its leaders, AQAP is still seen as one of the most perilous branches of al-Qaeda following the death of its founder, Osama bin Laden, in 2011.
The organization’s notoriety worsened when a US drone strike in Afghanistan killed bin Laden’s successor, Ayman al-Zawahri, last year, leading to an increased chain of violence stemming from the September 11 attacks. AQAP’s new leader, al-Awlaki, carries a $6 million bounty on his head, as Washington deems him a direct threat for inciting violence against the US and its allies. He took over leadership after the announcement of Khalid al-Batarfi’s death in 2024.
Interestingly, AQAP’s recent actions mirror those of Yemen’s Houthi rebels, particularly following the intensified conflicts in Gaza. The Iran-affiliated Houthis have not hesitated to fire missiles at Israel and target vessels traversing the Red Sea, engaged in what the US Navy describes as the fiercest combat since World War II. The administration under former President Trump launched a vigorous military campaign against the Houthis, abruptly concluding prior to his Middle East visit.
Though the Houthis have boosted their international presence amid Yemen’s ongoing strife, al-Awlaki might be attempting to leverage the prevailing chaos to elevate AQAP’s stature. United Nations experts estimate the group retains a fighting force of roughly 3,000 to 4,000, reportedly funded through bank robberies, smuggling, and other nefarious operations.
Notably, while previous associations between the Sunni extremist AQAP and Shia Zaydi Houthis have been denied by the latter, AQAP’s attacks on Houthis have significantly decreased over the years. At the same time, AQAP continues to clash with forces allied against the Houthis. Mohammed al-Basha, an expert on Yemen from the Basha Report, remarked that al-Awlaki’s message appears to challenge the Houthis’ authority, as they bask in their role as defenders for the “Arab and Muslim world’s resistance” to Israel. “For a national security and foreign policy community increasingly disengaged from Yemen, this video is a clear reminder: Yemen still matters.”
In summary, Saad bin Atef al-Awlaki’s recent video message underscores a troubling escalated rhetoric from Yemen’s AQAP, threatening high-profile figures like Trump and Musk in response to the Gaza conflict. As AQAP seeks to reclaim relevance amid Yemen’s ongoing turmoil, parallels with the Houthi rebels show a landscape of competing interests, underscoring the complex dynamics in the region where struggles for power are ongoing. The implications of these threats point to a renewed focus on Yemen’s significance in the broader Middle Eastern geopolitical play.
Original Source: www.newarab.com
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