Yemeni Report Explores Al-Qa'ida's 'New Strategy' in Southern Yemen
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AFP: 62 Al-Qa'ida Prisoners Escape From Yemen Jail EUP20110622741001 Paris AFP (North American Service) in English 22 Jun 11 [AFP headline-"62 Qaeda prisoners escape from Yemen jail"]
Nasir al-Wahayshi, the leader of Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), made a similar escape along with 23 other members of the network from a prison in Sanaa in February 2006. The spokesman for the civil society organisations in Hadramawt, Nasser Bakazzuz, accused the authorities of assisting the prisoners to escape. "The regime is living its last days and wants to create chaos in Hadramawt province ... There was no attack by Al-Qaeda on the jail to free prisoners," Bakazzuz said. A dissident military official echoed Bakazzuz's charges that security forces have facilitated the fleeing of the prisoners "as there was no resistance based on the death and injury toll." A medic at Ibn Sina hospital in the city said a security force member was killed and two others wounded, while an Al-Qaeda militant who arrived at the hospital in critical condition later died. The military official said: "I fear the repetition of a scenario similar to that which took place in Zinjibar," capital of the southern province of Abyan, which has widely fallen under the control of suspected Al-Qaeda militants since late May. Battles have raged between the army and the alleged Al-Qaeda militants in several parts of the Arabian Peninsula nation that has also been witnessing a massive uprising against the 33-year-old rule of President Ali Abdullah Saleh. At least 100 soldiers have been killed since the violence in Zinjibar erupted more than three weeks ago, and 260 have been wounded, according to a military official. Fighting between government forces and suspected Al-Qaeda elements in southern Yemen have displaced 45,000 people, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said Tuesday. "OCHA is concerned about this conflict situation in southern Yemen in Abyan province," said Elisabeth Byrs, an OCHA spokeswoman. "We are concerned about the resulting displacement of people." Uncertainty has prevailed over the impoverished and deeply tribal country's fate after Saleh was flown to Riyadh for treatment for wounds suffered when a bomb exploded as he prayed at his palace mosque earlier this month. The president has made no public appearance since the attack, sparking speculation concerning his situation and casting doubts over the possibility of his return to power. In Saleh's absence, Vice President Abdrabuh Mansur Hadi has been coming under intense local and international pressure to heed the demands of protesters to set up an interim ruling council, which would prevent Saleh returning to power. But Hadi's grip on power is strongly questioned as relatives of Saleh continue to run main security systems. Key among them is Saleh's son, Ahmed, who leads the elite Republican Guard. Top US official Jeffrey Feltman met Hadi in Sanaa on Wednesday and discussed with him the latest developments in Yemen and means of cooperation to "confront terror," state news agency Saba reported. Saleh, 69, has been a key US ally on the "war on terror" Yemen is the ancestral homeland of late Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden and the jihadists' local affiliate, Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, is blamed for anti-US plots including trying to blo w up a US-bound airplane on Christmas Day in 2009. [Description of Source: Paris AFP (North American Service) in English -- North American service of the independent French press agency Agence France-Presse] Yemen: Army Evacuates Abyan After Fierce Clashes With Suspected Al-Qa'ida Fighters GMP20110622116002 Sanaa Yemen Post in English 20 Jun 11 [Unattributed report: "Government Forces Evacuate Abyan Province"] A senior security official in Abyan said that most governmental forces have evacuated Abyan province after fierce clashes with Islamic militants. This comes as a blow to government efforts to clean the province from suspected al-Qaeda militants. However, an official in Abyan said to Yemen Post that the majority of fighters killed in Abyan over the last three weeks have not been al-Qaeda members, but rather civilians or Islamic militants. He explained that Abyan militants call themselves "Ansar Share'a", which means the "defenders of Islamic law." The government fears that the spread of the Islamic militancy in Abyan, Lahj, and Aden could be as big of a risk as al-Qaeda. Thousands of Jihadists exist in southern provinces, though they almost never attack western targets. Government is making its stance clear and that they will target anyone causing chaos in the country. Clashes with Islamic fighters has backlashed, as militants are now spreading to neighboring provinces. [Description of Source: Sanaa Yemen Post Online in English -- Website of independent weekly newspaper, critical of government policies; updated daily; URL: http://www.yemenpost.net/Default.aspx] Yemeni Army Reportedly Fights Difficult War With Al-Qa ida in Abyan GMP20110630825001 London Al-Hayah Online in Arabic 30 Jun 11 [Report by Faysal Makram in Sanaa: "The Yemeni Army Faces Hard War With Al-Qa'ida In Abyan"] Attacks and counter-attacks between Yemeni army forces and gunmen believed to be affiliated with Al-Qa'ida, and who call themselves "Ansar al-Shari'ah," continue in the periphery of Zinjibar, capital of the Abyan Governorate. Meanwhile, Yemeni air force jets have intensified their strikes on sites in Zinjibar and its suburbs where gunmen are believed to be taking shelter. The past few days witnessed developments in the confrontations between the two parties as armed clashes involving the use of various types of weapons intensified. The militants managed to hold out inside the city despite intensive and concentrated bombardment. The gunmen foiled attempts by Yemeni army units to break through their defenses and recapture the city. The fighting left hundreds dead or wounded on both sides but there are no confirmed figures on the number of casualties on each side since the fighting erupted in Mid-May. In this context, sources in Abyan Governorate told Al-Hayah that Al-Qa'ida fighters in Zinjibar number in the hundreds, and perhaps exceed 2000 gunmen, including foreign elements, who are not allowed to have any sort of dealing with local citizens. These sources said that Al-Qa'ida elements, who use weapons they seized from Yemeni government forces in previous confrontations, adopt guerrilla warfare tactics. They launch surprise attacks on military posts as happened more than once. In one such attack, hey opened fire at Brigade 119 military post in the Dufas area near Aden, killing and wounding a number of soldiers and damaging some vehicles before fleeing to rugged mountainous areas. Over the past two weeks, the Dufas area witnessed sporadic clashes between Yemeni army units and gunmen. Local sources said Yemeni army units face extreme difficulties in the battlefield because of car bomb suicide attacks. In the past week, an Al-Qa'ida-affiliated suicide bomber drove a car bomb into a military convoy in Aden en route to Abyan, killing three soldiers and wounding 10 others. In a telephone call to Al-Hayah, a source close to the armed groups said that "the gunmen have numerous car bombs ready to use in the event a Yemeni Army force decides to advance on Zinjibar." He added that "there are also dozens of suicide bombers ready for such missions." The gunmen set up ambushes for government forces and reinforcements in unexpected areas. This forced the Yemeni army to intensify its daily strikes, which, according to local sources, left dozens of gunmen killed or wounded in the past few weeks, and a number of vehicles, which the gunmen had previously seized, destroyed. According to eyewitnesses, Yemeni warplanes carry out intensive strikes every day on gunmen's positions in Zinjibar and Ja'ar. They targeted the Political Security (intelligence) building and the government complex in the center of Ja'ar more than once. They also struck numerous installations and houses where armed groups are believed to be sheltering. These eyewitnesses said that in the past few days, they saw armed groups taking control of a strip of the coastal highway between Aden and Abyan, and that they are now close to Al-Alam post at the approaches to Aden, increasing the Yemeni authorities' fear of the possibility that the confrontations may move to Aden, Yemen's economic and commercial capital. Ban on Tax Payment On Saturday, (25 June), armed groups distributed leaflets signed by "Ansar al-Shari'ah" to the remaining people in Zinjibar, pledging to address the problem of water and electricity. They also fixed the prices of a number of commodities and fuel derivatives, warned against usury in trade and money exchange, and the sale of "lewd" newspapers and magazines. They threatened to punish anyone who breaks these rules. The leaflets also warned against collecting taxes and customs fees, as these are "illegal taxes in the Islamic shari'ah," which "only orders collecting Zakah [Islamic Shari'ah tax] from the rich to distribute to the poor." Armed groups are now in control of most of Abyan Governorate. They avoid appearance under the name of Al-Qa'ida in the Arabian Peninsula [AQAP]. However, observers confirm that Al-Qa'ida organization leaders control these armed groups. It is clear that the sudden emergence of these "jihadist" groups, and their control of several areas in Yemen have raised the concern of many world countries, primarily the United States, which does not conceal its participation in military operations against Al-Qa'ida, and its determination to resume secret operations and the use of drones to assassinate its leaders. Although the Al-Qa'ida organization keeps silent on its escalation of military operations, and has not released any statement claiming responsibility for its operations, it had paved the way in the media for those operations. A statement released by Al-Qa'ida military commander, Qasim al-Rimi, declared that the organization had laid the foundations for the formation of "the Islamic Army of Aden-Abyan." According to researchers specialized in Islamic groups affairs, the operations Al-Qa'ida elements are carrying out in Abyan Governorate are a dress rehearsal to test its military capabilities and to give its new elements, who had not taken part in fighting in Afghanistan or Iraq, practical combat experience. They argue that these attacks are also part of the military preparations the organization is making in keeping with the Islamic shari'ah tenet "And say Work: (righteousness) Soon will Allah observe your work, and His Messenger, and the Believers," [Koranic verse Al-Tawbah;9:105]. These researchers rule out the possibility that the goal of these operations is to proclaim the establishment of a separate Islamic emirate in any Yemeni governorate or city that are under the control of the gunmen. Al-Rimi, who is known by the nom de guerre "Abu-Hurayrah al-San'ani, revealed in October that AQAP was close to laying the foundations of the Islamic Army of Aden-Abyan, in a signal that the number of AQAP members was nearing 12,000 fighters, according to the literature of the armed jihadist groups. In an audiotape at the time posted on the Al-Malahim Establishment, Al-Rimi said that AQAP elements were "present in numerous mountainous, desert, and coastal areas." He added: "We avoid emergence and taking control until we have completed our preparations and capabilities." He vowed to fight against the regime of President Ali Abdallah Salih "until it is eliminated." He revealed that the number of Al-Qa'ida elements in Yemen increased in the wake of the air strikes, which the Yemeni authorities call preemptive, and which targeted Al-Qa'ida positions in recent months. [Description of Source: London Al-Hayah Online in Arabic -- Website of influential Saudi-owned London pan-Arab daily. URL: http://www.daralhayat.com] Yemeni Officials Accused of Pressuring 25th Brigade To Withdraw From Zinjibar GMP20110630123001 Sanaa Al-Masdar Online in Arabic 29 Jun 11 [Unattributed "exclusive" report: "The Southern Military Zone Headquarters Is Accused of Pressuring the 25th Mechanized Brigade To Withdraw From Zinjibar." For assistance with multimedia elements, contact the OSC Customer Center at (800) 205-8615 or OSCinfo@rccb.osis.gov.]
[Description of Source: Sanaa Al-Masdar Online in Arabic -- Website of independent weekly newspaper, critical of government policies; URL: http://www.al-masdar.com/] Yemen: Al-Qa'ida-Affiliated Group Establishes Islamic Court in Abyan GMP20110630160004 Naba News in Arabic 29 Jun 11 [Unattributed report: "In Its First Sentence: Al-Qa'ida Court in Zinjibar Orders the Cutting of a Citizen's Hand"]
It is noteworthy that Al-Qa'ida gunmen had previously took control of Zinjibar City, the capital of Abyan Governorate, and declared it an Islamic emirate. However, the army and security forces confronted them. It is known that fierce battles erupted between the army and gunmen in Zinjibar. On the other hand, well-informed sources noted that clashes erupted between army forces and gunmen leading to the killing of seven of these gunmen who are believed to be affiliated with Al-Qa'ida. [Description of Source: Naba News in Arabic -- Pro-government news website, harshly critical of secessionist efforts and the Huthist insurgency; URL: http://www.nabanews.net] Ansar al-Shari'ah Seeks Tribal Support , Decries Yemeni Regime's 'Criminals' GMP20110720116005 Aden Aden Al-Ghad Online in Arabic 15 Jul 11 [Statement attributed to the Ansar al-Shari'ah group warning tribes against waging war and against supporting the Yemeni regime. For assistance with multimedia elements, contact OSC at 1-800-205-8615 or oscinfo@rccb.osis.gov.] In the name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate "And there would have been some among you who would have listened to them," [partial Koranic verse, Al-Tawbah, 9:47]. To their brothers in God, living in plains, villages, and cities of proud Abyan, May peace, mercy, and blessings of God be upon you, We praise God, the One there is no other God than Him Who says: "Fain would they extinguish Allah's light with their mouths, but Allah will not allow but that His light should be perfected, even though the Unbelievers may detest (it)" [Koranic verse, Al-Tawbah, 9:32]. We pray and salute our messenger who says: "Satan has lost all hopes that worshippers would ever worship him in the Arabian peninsula," narrated by Muslim. O honorable ones, the meanness of this demised regime and its plots against this free and honorable people are obvious. This regime concocted numerous plots and disasters. It has been carrying out practices against our beloved country since decades, such as plundering its wealth and resources, ignoring Islam and religion, spreading vice and fighting virtue through media outlets, empowering those who steal and embezzle government funds, collaborating with the Crusaders in killing the honorable and innocent ones in their own villages, and stirring up wars among citizens. Numerous are the souls this regime sacrificed for the wars it stirred up, and numerous are the massacres it carried out against this honorable people. Abyan had a great lot of them! You also are very aware of the massacres committed in Al-Ma'jalah, Zinjibar, October Factory, and other areas. Here are the aircraft of this regime, along with US aircraft, hovering over your heads and shelling your houses and mosques, as is the case in Sanaa, Ta'izz, Sa'dah, Al-Jawf, Arhab, and others areas. This regime is used to shedding blood and killing the innocent. You are all aware of the regime's massacres committed in the squares of change. God made it easy for your Ansar al-Shari'ah brothers to drive out this regime and expel it from its headquarters with the least possible human and material damage. Smile has returned to the children's faces, joy has filled their hearts, and security has prevailed. The regime became outraged and envied this joy, then decided to hide the smile and oppress the joy, leading army brigades and launching air raids. It destroyed houses and terrorized the innocent. "And they ill-treated them for no other reason than that they believed in Allah, Exalted in Power, Worthy of all Praise!" [Koranic verse, Al-Buruj, 85:8]. It did not content itself with such acts, as it is still attacking innocent people. The regime is currently seeking to involve these people in a civil war wreaking havoc everywhere and going overboard with its accustomed criminal deception practiced everywhere. The symbols of this regime are very skillful in hatching such plots and issues. We, the members of Ansar al-Shari'ah, call on the wise and honorable people to refrain from being driven into such a criminal plot which seeks to involve them in a fierce war. Only those who are deceived and brought to the frontlines will pay the price of such a war. We, in turn, call upon all tribes and Muslims to support Ansar al-Shari'ah who want to raise the banner of Islam and resort to God's Book and the tradition of His prophet -- may God's peace and prayer be upon him. This way they can observe God's statements as reported in the prophet's last sermon: "I am leaving behind among you two invaluable things that if you hold fast to them you will never go astray; the Book of God and my tradition." We are doing so to spare blood, maintain honor, protect our money, and avoid being dragged behind secular and democratic appeals made to vie over posts, without caring about the Muslims' honors and blood. We officially announce that we are people with principles and values seeking to establish God's law on earth. We fear no one, expect God, even if all parties rally against us. "That those who died might die after a clear Sign (had been given), and those who lived might live after a Clear Sign (had been given). And verily Allah is He Who heareth and knoweth (all things)," [partial Koranic verse, Al-Anfal, 8:42]. On this land, we have vanquished the corrupt oppressors thanks to the sacrifices of our righteous men. By God, we will never betray them or let their sacrifices go in vain by giving up the land to those who killed them. They will never tread this land with their feet but on our dead bodies. They know well how our battles with them were severe, and remember well how they backed off and distraughtly ran away. If they have not yet learned lessons, then we advise them to ask their US masters how we burned them in Iraq and Afghanistan. O honored tribesmen, we advise you to side with those who sincerely serve the interest of their religion and are honest to their people, like Shaykh Usamah Bin Ladin, may God rest his soul. Almighty God teaches: "O ye who believe! Fear Allah and be with those who are true (in word and deed)," [Koranic verse, Al-Tawbah, 9:119]. We advise you not to join the ranks of the coward criminals. You are honored and dignified, and hence you should not support them. Those who dare to be dragged by the plots of the regime will have their joyful events and celebrations turned into sorrow and funerals, and then no one would be to blame but themselves. [Signed by] Ansar al-Shari'ah [Dated] 14 Sha'ban 1432 [corresponding to 15 July 2011] [Description of Source: Aden Al-Ghad Online in Arabic; URL: http://adenalghad.net] Qaeda Trying to Harness Toxin for Bombs, U.S. Officials Fear By ERIC SCHMITT and THOM SHANKER WASHINGTON — American counterterrorism officials are increasingly concerned that the most dangerous regional arm of Al Qaeda is trying to produce the lethal poison ricin, to be packed around small explosives for attacks against the United States. For more than a year, according to classified intelligence reports, Al Qaeda’s affiliate in Yemen has been making efforts to acquire large quantities of castor beans, which are required to produce ricin, a white, powdery toxin that is so deadly that just a speck can kill if it is inhaled or reaches the bloodstream. 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