Al-Qaeda in Yemen hails attack on US consulate in Libya, urges Muslims worldwide to attack American interests

 By: Mohammed al-Kibsi
Al-Qaeda’s branch in Yemen AQAP praised the attack against US embassy in Libya as well as attacks against US embassies in Egypt and Yemen and urged Muslims worldwide to attack Americans interests.
The AQAP's comment did come in the form of claim of responsibility for the Benghazi attack. It was in the form of a justification for the attack.
According to SITE, an intelligence group in the US which, inter alia, monitors the web statements of Al Qaeda, the AQAP said, "The killing of Sheikh Abu Yahya only increased the enthusiasm and determination of the sons of (Libyan independence hero) Omar al-Mukhtar to take revenge upon those who attack our Prophet. The uprising of our people in Libya, Egypt and Yemen against America and its embassies is a sign to notify the United States that its war is not directed against groups and organizations... but against the Islamic nation that has rebelled against injustice."

AQAP called for more violent demonstrations against US embassies in the Middle East and Africa, and urged Muslims in the West to attack American interests in their countries of residence.


Analysts wondered that al Qaeda's first comment on the commando-style attack on the United states consulate in Benghazi in Libya has not come from its command and control in North Waziristan in Pakistan headed by its Amir Ayman al-Zawahiri, but from its Yemen branch called  al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula.

Of course, Zawahiri had issued a video message on September 10, 2012, one day before the Benghazi attack, confirming the death of his No.2 Abu Yahya al-Libi, a Libyan cleric, in a US drone strike in the Waziristan area on June 4,2012. The message called President Barack Obama a liar, who was trying to mislead the Muslims.

The presumption among many analysts was that the Benghazi attack was to avenge the death of al-Libi and that it had been planned before the Islamic world came to know of the film Innocence of Islam which has sparked off violent anti-US protests in many countries.

Analysts expected that the first comment of al-Qaeda on the Benghazi attack would come from Zawahiri or from Al Qaeda headquarters in North Waziristan. It has not. It has come from Yemen, indicating a possible co-ordination of the anti-US protests by AQAP.
"May the expulsion of embassies and consulates lead to the liberation of Arab lands from the American hegemony and the arrogance," said the statement.

Meanwhile, more  than 400 insurgents from al-Qaeda in al-Mahfad district in south Yemen, the current stronghold in a mountainous area between Abyan and Shabwah provinces, are  preparing  to control the  town of Baihan, local  official said on Sunday.

The director of Al Mahfad district, Yaslem Al Anboori, said in a press interview that al-Qaeda in al-Mahfaf had sent a number of suicide bombers to Aden and Sana’a to target Yemeni and western officials and installations.
A total of 200 armored vehicles of the American marines arrived to the Yemeni capital Sanaa according to the weekly independent newspaper Al Ola.
And  250 soldiers of the marines had arrived on Friday and Saturday.

The American government said it had sent forces to protect its embassy in Sanaa.

Earlier, the  Yemeni Parliament called the American forces to leave the country immediately, after about 150 from the American Marines forces arrived to Sanaa after angry demonstrators  stormed and destroyed the US embassy in protest over American-Israeli film deemed abusive to Islam and its prophet Mohamed.

"We do not accept any foreign forces in Yemen, be it small or big forces, and for any reason," said a statement by the Parliament on Saturday. The Parliament asked the government to protect all foreign missions in Yemen. The statement condemned the anti-Islam film ( the Innocence of Muslims) and called  for putting the film  makers on trial.






On September 15,2012, the Tehrik-e-Taliban [ Images ] Pakistan as the Pakistani Taliban is known called upon Muslim youth in Pakistan and other countries to protest against the movie. While one violent incident attributed to the Afghan Taliban has been reported from Southern Afghanistan, reportedly resulting in the death of two US Marines, there have so far been no violent incidents in Pakistan, but anti-US demonstrations have been held in different cities of Pakistan.

The wave of protests till now has been against the film itself and the US for allowing it to be produced and clips to be disseminated from the US, but clerics in different countries, while calling for the protests to be peaceful, have been demanding a UN ban on any insult to sacred symbols of Islam and other religions.

Innocent Muslims movie worsens relations between Yemen and USA, Yemen parliament demands US Marines leave Yemen

 By Mohammed al-Kibsi

The controversial Innocent Muslims movie lead into anger all over the Islamic countries including Yemen. Thousands of Yemenis stormed the US embassy on September 13 and 14.

Over 4 civilians were killed on the streets near the US embassy in Sana’a after some or protesters broke into the Embassy and looted what they found available. This move incited the US administration to dispatch some more US marines to protect the embassy.

However it seems that the controversial Innocent Muslims movie produced in USA is going to hurt relations between Yemen and USA.

 The Yemeni Parliament called the American forces to leave the country immediately, after about 150 from the American Marines forces arrived to Sana’a after angry demonstrators  stormed and looted the US embassy in protest over American-Israeli film deemed abusive to Islam and prophet Mohamed.

"We do not accept any foreign forces in Yemen, be it small or big forces, and for any reason," said a statement by the Parliament on Saturday. The Parliament asked the government to protect all foreign missions in Yemen. The statement condemned the anti-Islam film ( the Innocence of Muslims) and called  for putting the film  makers on trial.

Meanwhile, Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula called Muslims to kill more American diplomats saying that the film was only a new chapter of a Crusade war on Islam. " Follow the example of  the Libyans, grandsons of Omar Al Mukhtar," said the statement in a clear reference to the killing of American ambassador in Libya last week.

Four people were killed and 48 other injured including 10 soldiers last Thursday when angry protester stormed the US embassy in Sana’a. 61 cars were completely damaged, and 13 were burnt and one was stolen.

One of those killed was buried on Saturday in Sana’a and his father said during the funeral that the America Marines killed his son. This would create additional anti-American sentiment. 

Yemen parliament demands US Marines leave Yemen

 The Yemeni Parliament called the American forces to leave the country immediately, after about 150 from the American Marines forces arrived to Sana’a after angry demonstrators  stormed and looted the US embassy in protest over American-Israeli film deemed abusive to Islam and prophet Mohamed.

"We do not accept any foreign forces in Yemen, be it small or big forces, and for any reason," said a statement by the Parliament on Saturday. The Parliament asked the government to protect all foreign missions in Yemen. The statement condemned the anti-Islam film ( the Innocence of Muslims) and called  for putting the film  makers on trial.

Meanwhile, Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula called Muslims to kill more American diplomats saying that the film was only a new chapter of a Crusade war on Islam. " Follow the example of  the Libyans, grandsons of Omar Al Mukhtar," said the statement in a clear reference to the killing of American ambassador in Libya last week.

Four people were killed and 48 other injured including 10 soldiers last Thursday when angry protester stormed the US embassy in Sana’a. 61 cars were completely damaged, and 13 were burnt and one was stolen.

One of those killed was buried on Saturday in Sana’a and his father said during the funeral that the America Marines killed his son. This would create additional anti-American sentiment. 

The day the US Embassy in Yemen was looted

By:  Mohammed Humaid

 I live next to the bridge leading to the US Embassy. A number of windows of my house were shattered during an exchange of stone throwing between the protesters and the anti-riot police on Thursday afternoon, September 13, 2012.  We also had a dose of tear gas in our house that infiltrated from the shattered windows. Youths in their teens were hysterically throwing stones and chanting anti-American slogans. Youths too young to form any serious political opinion seemed thrilled with the prospects of throwing stone at police and chanting a mantra that promotes self-sacrifice.
Later in the evening we saw TV footage of horrific scenes of these youths, entering the US embassy and looting whatever can be carried. Scenes of protesters smashing wind screens of cars were particularly appalling.  This shameful conduct demonstrates an inherent character that we have tried to deny but failed repeatedly; it’s that tendency to seize the property of others by use of force, if it can’t be seized, it gets destroyed. This is not a transitory reaction to hap hazard events. It is becoming part of our modern identity. It’s true that the majority of people denounce it but the fact that it continuous unabated means that it defines who we are.
The issue is not against whom the violence is directed, nor to whom the property in question belongs, the question is why force and unlawful seizing of property has become a way to express our anger or discontent?
 The trouble is deeper than one might think at first instance. An incident such as the appalling film against the prophet served as a stimulant that incited anger and discontent. The interpretation of such response depends on the culture and set of values the respondent believes in. In Libya, it took the form of barbaric brutality that led to murder, In Egypt rioting and invasion of US embassy compound, in Morocco peaceful condemnation, in Asia burning of the US flag. In Yemen, violence and looting of property. We have experienced similar incidents when Sana’a was looted in 1948; when Aden was looted in 1994; when several ministries were looted in 2011 and when the Ministry of Interior was looted in 2012. The looting of the US embassy was thus not an act of animosity directed at the embassy as per ce, rather it is a form of expression of our anger and discontent.
The chief culprits are the youths who are themselves are victims of misgovernance. The youths, have little hope, little education and are frustrated with their lives. They lack the simplest forms of recreation; they have energy but don’t know how to expend it. You see them playing football in the roads, streets and alleys. No sports grounds, no places for them to discover their talents and improve their skills. They are jobless with little prospect of employment no matter how hard they tried. Scholarships, abroad and inside the country, are taken up by the small elite. The same elite that have confiscated the parks and recreation grounds and suffocated their hopes.  This practice is recurrent day in and day out and explains not only why Yemeni cities are deprived of green space and from trees and why most of our roads lead to nowhere. Disrespect of their rights translates into disrespect for the rights and property of others.

Relations between Yemen and the United States haven’t been better. The US has given Yemen hundreds of millions of dollars in aid, making it the second largest donor after Saudi Arabia. The United States played an indispensible role in brokering the Gulf Cooperation Deal and the Security Council resolution on Yemen that paved the way for restoration of peace in Yemen. The US ambassador used his good offices and shuttled back and forth relentlessly between warring factions with a view to securing the Gulf Cooperation initiative. In fact, the US played and continuous to play a critical role in defusing tension during and after the signing of the political settlement. US president Obama has denounced the film so has his secretary of State Hilary Clinton. Having said that, the US says that freedom of expression gives right to citizens to express themselves and there is nothing the government can do anything about it, yet US laws give individuals who become victims of slander or libel the power to prosecute the perpetrator when individual dignity and respect have been violated so there must be laws that punish people who show disrespect to the spiritual believes of other cultures, especially when the lives of many are at stake. May be when US laws were enacted situations such this one didn’t exist, but now require a fresh look. It can’t be that hard to enact a new law. After all respect goes both ways. 
Written by Mohammed Humaid  a Yemeni Fulbrighter and journalist

Yemen army kills AQAP number 2 along with 6 militants

By Mohamed al-Kibsi

Deputy leader of al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) Saeed Ali al-Shihri was killed along with six other al-Qaeda insurgents in Hadramout valley on Monday, said the website of the ministry of defense 26sep.net.

The website quoted a high profile military officer as saying that the Yemeni military forces have killed Saeed al-Shihri and six al-Qaeda suspects in an identical military operation launched by the Yemeni military forces  targeting a house in al-Ain district in Hadramout  valley where al-Shihri and other militants were living on Monday.

The military source said that the killing of al-Shihri was a painful strike for the remains of al-Qaeda militants that fled from Abyan province due to the massive offensive launched by the Yemeni forces last June that resulted in expelling al-Qaeda fighters from Zinjubar, Jaa’r and other towns of Abyan province.

The Yemeni military took credit for the Sept. 2 airstrike in Hadramout that targeted a vehicle and is reported to have killed six AQAP fighters. However, the strike was carried out by the US's fleet of unmanned Predators and Reapers based in the area, a US intelligence official told The Long War Journal. US drones have zeroed in on Hadramout province over the past month. Of the seven recorded strikes since the beginning of August, five have taken place in the eastern province.

US officials have not commented on reports of al Shihri's death. AQAP has not released a martyrdom statement announcing his death. In the past, AQAP has announced the deaths of senior leaders quickly.

Al Shihri has been reported killed several times in the past. Most recently, In February 2011, he was rumored to have been killed while working with explosives. Al Shihri was also said to have been killed in a US cruise missile attack in December 2009. And in January 2010, Yemeni officials claimed that al Shihri was captured.

Said al-Shahri was the second man of AQAP after the leader of AQAP Nasser al-Wahaishi.

Al-Shahri is a Saudi national that was extradited by the US authorities to the Saudi authorities from Guantanamo prison in 2007. He was released by the Saudi authorities after he took part in the Saudi rehabilitation program. However few months after he was released al-Shahri lead the Saudi branch of al-Qaeda and decided to merge with the Yemeni branch to form AQAP.

In November 2007, Shihri was released from Guantanamo and placed into Saudi custody, where he then entered a government-run rehabilitation program for former jihadists. Less than a year later, Shihri played a direct role in al Qaeda's attack on the American embassy in Sana'a, Yemen's capital, in September 2008. That attack killed 10 civilians, along with six terrorists.

In February 2009, when Al Qaeda in Saudi Arabia and Al Qaeda in Yemen merged to form Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, Shihri was named as deputy to AQAP emir Nasir al Wuhayshi.

Al-Shahri was accused of being behind a number of terrorist operation in Yemen, among them was the terrorist attack that targeted the US Embassy in Sana’a.  

Yemen President decreases powers of ex-president's son and defected general Ali Mohsen

By Mohammed al-Kibsi

President Abdu Raboo Mansour Hadi has issued a decree stripping the ex-president’s son  and the commander of the first armor brigade of part of their military command, a measure seen as a step toward reforming the armed forces.

Monday’s decision by President Hadi transfers command of three brigades of the Republican Guards and one of the first armor brigades to his direct oversight to be considered as the presidency protection unit under the direct command of the president.

The Republican Guards, Yemen’s best trained forces, are commanded by Ahmed Ali, son of the former president and the first armor brigade are commanded by defected general Ali Mohsen al-Ahmar.

Another republican decree was indorsed, stripping other four republican guards brigades and four armor brigades and putting them under commander of regional military units.

Hadi’s move is expected to ease Ahmad Ali’s and Ali Mohsen’s influence over the military, giving Hadi more influence over the military forces.

The republican decree was preceded by holding a meeting between the military committee that was assigned by Hadi to restructure the military and security forces and between the ambassadors of the 5 permanent members of the  UN security council and ambassadors of the Gulf states to inform them about the reshuffle.

Al-Qaeda kills over 55 citizens in south Yemen

By Mohammed al-kibsi

An al-Qaeda suicide bomber killed at least 55 civilians at a funeral in Ja’ar town of Abyan province, the Defense Ministry said Sunday.

Other sources confirmed that over 95 were killed and injured among them 55 were killed.

The al-Qaida suicide bomber detonated the explosives around his waist among funeral guests in Ja’ar town in Abyan province late on Saturday night, the country's Defense Ministry said in a brief statement posted on its website.

"Latest reports coming from Abyan province indicate that at least 46 people were killed and about 48 others were wounded, some of them in critical conditions," the statement said.

A local pro-government tribal chief is among those killed in the funeral attended by other anti-al-Qaeda militiamen and social figures, the statement added.

Al-Qaeda claimed responsibility for the deadly attack in an emailed statement obtained by Xinhua on Sunday. "One of our holly warriors carried out a successful jihadist operation on a compound in Jaar town," the statement said without giving more details.

It also threatened to launch further attacks on security officials and military bases across the country.