The Yemen-based Sunni militant group, Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, was once one of the active militias in the Middle East. But now, it is rapidly losing ground.
In a bid to stay relevant, Al-Qaeda’s Yemen group, or AQAP, is inserting itself into the Gaza conflict and declaring jihad on the US.
According to experts, AQAP chief Sa’ad bin Atef al-Awlaki has been using the Gaza war to boost his global standing and counter Yemen’s Shiite military group, the Houthis.
In his first-ever video-recorded message, Awlaki vowed support for the people of Palestine and called for widespread vengeance and violence.
He called on his followers to assassinate leaders in Egypt, Jordan, and other Arab states for not showing support for Gaza.
In the video, Awlaki even called for the assassinations of US President Donald Trump and tech mogul Elon Musk. Experts claimed that Awlaki’s violent threats are part of his calculated tactic to garner support for the group, which has been weakened after the US killed its leaders.
Since the US attacks, the group lost dominance and is now trying to replicate the Houthis’s strategy to increase its popularity.
The Houthis had gained prominence after they declared support for Gaza and started a military campaign against Israel and the US.
And Awlaki is betting on the same strategy to elevate his group's relevance.
Meanwhile, the US has intensified its efforts to locate the AQAP chief. It has placed a $10 million bounty for information on his whereabouts.
The State Department said that the reward reflects the heightened threat posed by al-Awlaki’s leadership.
Awlaki became the group’s chief in 2024 after his predecessor was killed in a US air Strike. He is accused of kidnapping American citizens and carrying out multiple attacks on the US military assets.
Notably, in early 2015, after the Houthis gained control over parts of Yemen, the AQAP prioritised fighting the Shiite group’s expansion, and regularly engaged in attacks.
AQAP has also targeted the Yemeni government, including a December 2013 attack on Yemen’s Ministry of Defence that killed at least 52 people.
The AQAP has established strongholds in Yemen’s southern regions by robbing banks, seizing government buildings, and releasing its members lodged in jails.
But the group recently stopped attacking Houthis, while continuing to target Saudi-led coalition forces. Experts claimed that the group may have removed the Houthis from its target list due to loss of manpower and overall decline in strength over the years.
According to the United Nations, the group currently has around 3,000 to 4,000 active and passive fighters. The group remains one of the most notorious branches of the global Al-Qaeda network since its leader, Osama Bin Laden, was killed.
