Yemeni Report Explores Al-Qa'ida's 'New Strategy' in Southern Yemen
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Sources: Yemeni Air Force Jets Fly Over Southern Sites Run by 'Extremist Groups' GMP20110906181002 Sanaa Al-Masdar Online in Arabic 06 Sep 11 [Unattributed report: "Intensive Air Force Flights Over Areas in Shabwah Governorate Where Extremists are Active, and Fears of Attacks on Civillians"]
The sources told Al-Masdar Online on 5 September that the jets, believed to be belonging to the Yemeni Air Force, have been flying in the skies of the districts of Mayfa'ah and Al-Rawdah since 3 September. Extremist militants, who call themselves Ansar al-Shari'ah group, are active in these areas. This is the same name of the militants who took over cities in the southern Governorate of Abyan. A local source also told Al-Masdar Online that those militants, believed to be affiliated with Al-Qa'ida, have been running the cities of Izzan and Al-Hawtah since thesecurity forces in these areas pulled out months ago. Al-Hawtah is located in Mayfa'ah District and Izzan is located in Al-Rawdah District. The local source added that the flights sent fear into the citizen's hearts, prompting some to flee from their homes and take refuge in other areas, fearing erroneous bombings. Civilians are usually the victims of air strikes while attempting to target extremist militants, exactly like what happened in the city of Ja'ar in Abyan Governorate, where the Air Force bombed a mosque and a hospital, killing or wounding several civilians. Violent clashes broke out last September between government forces and militants, who the authorities say belong to Al-Qa'ida. They barricaded themselves in the city of Al-Hawtah in Shabwah Governorate, killing or wounding dozens on both sides.
[Description of Source: Sanaa Al-Masdar Online in Arabic -- Website of independent weekly newspaper, critical of government policies; URL: http://www.al-masdar.com/] Yemeni Writer 'Ventures' Into Al-Qa'ida Stronghold, Depicts Fighters' Routines GMP20111020116002 Sanaa Al-Wasat Online in Arabic 28 Sep 11 - 28 Oct 11 [Report by Abd-al-Razzaq al-Jamal: "Half a Month in the Hospitality of Al-Qa'ida in the Arabian Peninsula. Impressions."] You will be surely interested in getting to know details on the lifestyle and behavior of this group, if you ever come to visit it on a press mission or, simply, out of curiosity. You will be certainly very scared, since death triumphs in areas where such a group sets foot. By nature, humans, even insane, steer away with utmost fear from areas with little life. In my view at least, living in places where the possibility of obtaining accurate information on this group was worse than living in lifeless areas. In fact, I am convinced that local and foreign media reports do not reflect the ground reality in such areas. Therefore, I decided to venture out and respond to the invitation addressed to me. On my way, many images were springing up in my mind about the situation in the area I was heading to. I started to imagine the general situation of the group, how I would live with them, and how things will turn out for me after joining the group or its members, safe and sound. Meanwhile, the roar of the US drones was almost continuous and I had to put up with other troubles on the road. The only way to avoid such airplane issues on my way from Shabwah to Abyan was to switch off my mobile phone and rely on God. So I switched off my mobile phone after expelling any thought about potential risks. This way I could appear completely natural in the eyes of my companions during this trip from Shabwah to Abyan. Yet I had insistent questions to ask until I reached the coastal city of Shaqrah where we made a halt for some rest. Al-Qa'ida Organization has recently regained this city, after tribesmen took control of it a while ago. We took a rough sand path to reach it. In fact, the main road leading to Shaqrah was not safe in some areas. My companions did not ask me much, but kept talking to me about the risks surrounding my visit to a banned group, reminding me of the fate of journalist Abd-al-Ilah Haydar Shayi. They were surely not aware that I did not need further concerns in this tough journey. A trip companion had this conclusion: the press does not convey truth, as all newspapers are linked to a particular party or a particular figure, while no sides and no figures have a liking for Al-Qa'ida. This companion told me that all newspapers are set against Al-Qa'ida, before asking me: "If you cover facts from here, will your newspaper release your report, as is?" I replied positively, but my answer did not seem to convince him. He nodded, telling me: "All the best, God willing." Another trip companion told me: "I wish you could convey reality as is, even if it does not serve our interest." I told him that I precisely came to this area to report on the ground reality, as is. If I didn't have such a goal in mind, I would have kept reporting on Abyan Governorate from Sanaa, as many other people are doing. A third trip companion wanted to talk to me about the feeling of suspicion that might arise around me, before asking me: "What is your son's name, so that I can call you Abu-something [father of]?" I replied by giving my full name, Abd-al-Razzaq al-Jamal. In fact, people are not called by their names in these areas for security reasons. All people have nicknames. I was probably the only person called by his real name, before someone suggested that I take a nickname. This is how I was nicknamed Aba-al-Muhajir afterward. We are still in Shaqrah at the moment and I am well-aware that this city is teeming with Al-Qa'ida fighters. It was unusual to witness spy US airplanes flying so intensively over the city, in comparison with other areas. The aircraft movement pattern is an accurate criterion allowing to find out how significant is Al-Qa'ida's presence in a particular area. The Americans hold strong information in this regard, yet they do not benefit that much from it. In fact, Al-Qa'ida fighters take the needed precautionary measures as follows: First rule: Switching off the mobile phone; Second rule: Keep moving around, as the US aircraft cannot hit mobile targets; Third rule: No meeting involving more than three people should take place. Fourth rule: Reciting Koranic supplications. The Allowed Space I suddenly remembered something related to these precautions. The Washington Post paper once cited US officials as saying that the Obama administration has recently stepped up drone attacks in Yemen. According to the daily, the same officials also stressed that the situation in Yemen is the opposite of the one taking place in Pakistan. In Yemen or Somalia, air raids need the White House's prior approval and targets are selected from a list including names of prominent leaders in the Al-Qa'ida in the Arabian Peninsula [AQAP]. This Washington Post news does not need to be confirmed by US officials. A simple visit to Abyan Governorate will do. It is not certain though whether the targets of the US aircraft in Yemen are taken from a pre-approved list of top AQAP leaders. What is certain is, rather, the exact opposite. In fact, and just after I left Shaqrah, a US drone killed five Al-Qa'ida fighters who have recently joined the organization in this town and in Al-Mahfad District, Abyan Governorate. This scenario was repeated in other areas. By the way, the commander of the 25th Mechanized Brigade denied, in an interview with UAE Al-Khalij paper, any involvement of the US aircraft in the battles that took place in Abyan. The City of Mosquitoes I am now in Shaqrah, but my heart and mind are in the city of Zinjibar. I am very curious to get to know what is going on in this city. This is why I pressed my trip companions to move toward Zinjibar that I was longing so much to see. I was thinking that I would reach Shaqrah shortly. But the sounds of explosions I heard from Dawfas's frontline almost convinced me to stay in Shaqrah District, just as Al-Jazirah TV's correspondent Ahmad al-Shalafi once did. Travelers coming from Zinjibar -- that we met by chance en route or those stopping at Shaqrah -- updated us on the latest developments at the frontline. Human communication was the only means adopted to disseminate news in Abyan among Al-Qa'ida fighters. Such news cannot make it to the local and foreign media outlets reporting from Abyan on events that did not really take place there, although they talk about damages suffered by Al-Qa'ida. What is the value of such news, at this point, for a journalist like me, stuck in such an isolated area? I am not able to reach out to a media outlet as communication lines are cut off and such news will be valueless, if carried at a later time. I was wondering if I would be able to get out of Abyan with the latest news in hand. At the same time, I was aware that the recent events there were very critical and as important as the lie saying that Zinjibar was seized after the siege on the 25th Mechanized Brigade was lifted. All of this did not matter, as I was mainly concerned with moving toward Zinjibar City, the tense Ja'ar District, and the surrounding areas. I almost forgot to say that I drunk a staggering amount of water and cold fruit juice en route and during our stopover in Shaqrah, due to the high temperature that I was not used to. The car was full of delicious juice and chocolate, yet the products they boycott -- such as Pepsi Cola -- were missing. They are overwhelmingly generous when their financial situation was fair but, at times, they are compelled to sell some weapons, under some difficult circumstances, to satisfy some of the fighters' needs. The fighters stand ready to adjust to any given situation. They are not afraid of poverty and they do not rejoice when their living conditions are comfortable. It is only a matter of time for them. For them, events taking place on the ground are sources of fear or joy. I saw real fighters engaged in real battles. Shaqrah is a coastal city infested with mosquitoes which are swarming around, day and night. This is why I was scared of spending the night there, but my fears vanished when I saw the driver standing up and removing dust off his shirt, in a gesture indicating that we are moving ahead. The road to Zinjibar was very safe, as Al-Qa'ida militants were present along it. There was a heavy Al-Qa'ida manpower in the area, in view of which the international assessment of the situation on the ground can only be considered as an assessment, nothing more. The international assessment says that the number of Al-Qa'ida fighters in Yemen might reach 300. Yet this number will be a "joke" when you see, with your own eyes, their numbers in Abyan Governorate alone. I believe that the United States and its spy drones are aware of this situation. My question is: have the recent statements given by General David Petraeus anything to do with such a situation? Petraeus and Ba-Fadl While the United States and the NATO have been receiving painful blows from Al-Qa'ida in Afghanistan, General David Petraeus said a few days ago that Al-Qa'ida is more dangerous in Yemen than in any other country. Petraeus was not the first one to make such a statement, as many US officials had said the same thing and a CIA report asserted this fact more than a year ago. Petraeus's statement reflects the Western concern as to Al-Qa'ida's growing regional influence, which exposes the Western interests in the Arabian Peninsula to a great risk. This is true, particularly at this juncture where unprecedented lawlessness is prevailing in Yemen, in light of the popular and youth-led revolution demanding the overthrow of President Ali Abdallah Salih's rule. Petraeus's statement is also an attempt to benefit from the Yemeni opposition's hailing of the direct US military interference in Yemen, a move meant to obtain greater powers in the war on terror. In fact, the Yemeni opposition, previously, used to accuse [President Ali Abdallah] Salih's regime of making light of national sovereignty. This happened when the Yemeni president allowed US warplanes to bombard targeted outposts supposedly held by Al-Qa'ida in some Yemeni governorates. The Yemeni opposition is promoting the idea that Al-Qa'ida Organization in Yemen is linked to President Salih's regime. Such a move is carried out to have the Yemenis -- who are allergic to foreign interference -- accept the opposition's hailing of direct US military interference in Yemen. This way, the US interference would be part of the revolution against a regime that the people are asking to disappear. But the AQAP has completely denied such a linkage. The opposition has already reassured the United States that it will be its loyal ally in the war on the so-called "terrorism," after the ouster of the current regime. This seems to be a manipulation showed by the opposition to respond to another manipulation carried out by President Salih's regime concerning Al-Qa'ida's file. The US talk about the danger of Al-Qa'ida in Yemen is not only justified by the dangerous character of this organization. The United States has to take advantage of the fact that the parties to the conflict -- the regime and the opposition -- are scrambling to offer services [in the fight against Al-Qa'ida]. In the past, the popular response from anti-regime forces was a major source of discontent for the United States, while at present such forces have become more favorable to US interference. In this regard, you can ask opposition leader Abd-al-Rahman Ba-Fadl who said that the opposition is ready to grant the United States and France all the powers and the time they need to strike Al-Qa'ida in Yemen. Entering into Zinjibar at Night
Ja'ar District Life is normal here although some families started to leave their homes due to the bombardment that broke out one day only before our arrival. The bombardment targeted the Al-Razi General Hospital as well as a mosque in the city, killing a few citizens. I have no idea about life in this district, as I have been here for an hour or so and there is a power outage. I am fairly worn out after this exhausting trip. I must sleep by now and may tomorrow bring good news! The media official in Ja'ar District told me: "We know that you are very tired and need a lot of rest. In a short while, our fellows will have prepared for you your bed space, so that you can sleep. This space should be safe." I replied: "I can sleep anywhere and anyhow. No need to prepare anything for me. Just take me to my bed space. I am only afraid of being late. Otherwise, I am in a dire need of a comfortable place that can help me forget the hardships of the trip." The media official then told me that the preparations would not exceed half an hour, which, later on, turned out to be true. A car with one of Al-Qa'ida's media officials onboard came in and took us outside Ja'ar. We did not go much far, of course. We were two kilometers away only from the district. My sleeping place was set there, under a tree, and they prepared it for me. It seems that they were only looking for it. This space was all about a mattress laid on the ground, a light cover, and some lotion to get protected against mosquitoes. There were also instructions for protection against US military aircraft, and other ones for protection against Saudi and Yemeni military aircraft, for use upon our return to Ja'ar District in the morning. When you hear the US drones' roar, you must switch off your mobile phone and move around a lot, as such planes cannot bombard moving targets. When the Yemeni military warplanes come, you must do the exact opposite, by standing your ground, as Yemeni warplanes always miss their target. You will be the wrong target if you move around. I was told: "This is a bottle of water. You may need it for drinking or for other matters. Good night for now." I woke up during the night for such "other matters," as I drank a huge quantity of water and beverages en route. I did not know where to go. I ventured out and moved away to a relatively far distance. When I returned, I found out that nighttime was over and that I had to perform the ablutions ahead of the dawn prayer. We then all offered prayers before returning to sleep. A vehicle dubbed "Al-Ayshah" [the Nourisher] and assigned with the task of distributing food to fighters, woke us up to give us breakfast. I had concerns over the food of a homeless group of fighters who have a disorderly lifestyle. Yet I was surprised when Al-Ayshah's driver offered us a bag filled with cream, honey, bread, water, and some fruit juice. I thought at first that such hospitality was shown out of their care for me, as I am their guest. But, much to my surprise, I noticed in the car many other similar bags, ready to be handed out to the fighters. Fifteen minutes after out return to Ja'ar, the bombardment started and affected, among others, three areas across the district that I set foot in, one after the other, along with some fighters. I was told that some spies place landmark cards on particular spots, to draw the attention of the warplanes. These spies can even seek to track and determine the exact positions of the fighters. The relations of Al-Qa'ida fighters with the citizens in this district are strong, as is the case in the Al-Qa'ida-controlled areas. The air bombardment is a major source of concern for Ja'ar local residents and causes embarrassment for Al-Qa'ida The Management of Brutality Events are taking place in Abyan exactly as described in the book "The Management of Brutality," authored by Abu-Bakr Naji. This book is regarded as the constitution of the armed group and includes a presentation of Al-Qa'ida's present military ideology, which Naji describes as "the most dangerous phase that the ummah [Islamic community worldwide] is going through." As described in the book, the management of brutality refers to the management of brutal chaos, just as the one prevailing in Abyan. The profoundly chaotic areas are the ones that suit Al-Qa'ida and from where this organization sets off and expands, taking advantage of the locals' responsiveness. Al-Qa'ida, in fact, provides security to the locals at a time when they cannot think of anything else. A stranger passing by in Abyan would notice how important is the security provided by Al-Qa'ida. Author Abu-Bakr Naji defines the management of brutality as being "satisfying the people's food and medical needs, maintaining security and justice among the locals living in anarchic areas, securing the borders of these areas by setting up groups of deterrence, and setting up defense fortifications." Al-Qa'ida is taking such measures in the governorates of Abyan and Shabwah. This organization holds Shabwah under its control and carried out several activities there. Al-Qa'ida's pattern in Azzan District, Shabwah Governorate, has almost been generalized and followed in other districts. Azzan's locals themselves wish that such a prospect materializes. In the past, the central market of their district was an arena for settling accounts and not a single week passed without witnessing a crime. At present, this district has become the safest area in Shabwah, after it fell under the control of Ansar al-Shari'ah fighters. If Al-Qa'ida manages to extend its authority across Shabwah, then it would control a territory that is larger than the one held by the men of the revolution and the regime altogether. By the way, the overall land surface of Shabwah totals a little more than 80,000 square kilometers. Author Abu-Bakr Naji summarizes the mission of "brutality management" as follows: 1. Establishing Al-Shari'ah's justice among people living in areas governed by brutality; 2. Ensuring and maintaining internal security across all the areas controlled; 3. Raising the level of faith through training sessions. Enhancing combat capabilities of the youths living in areas governed by brutality. Building up a combating community, including various social segments and individuals, by raising awareness on the importance of such a community; 4. Striving to spread Al-Shari'ah's scholarly knowledge based on jurisprudence, by highlighting the most important facts first, then the important ones afterward. Likewise, the worldly knowledge should be disseminated too, by highlighting the most important facts first, then the important ones afterward; 5. Providing food and medical treatment; 6. Securing the areas governed by brutality against the air raids of the enemies, by setting up defensive fortifications and developing combat skills; 7. Spreading spies and completing the set up of a small intelligence service; 8. Reconciling people with each other by offering them some money and worldly assets. But his should take place according to the Shari'ah provisions and some other rules that are well-known amongst the brutality managers at least; 9. Deterring the hypocrites by putting forward arguments -- among other means -- and forcing them to hide their hypocrisy and refrain from voicing their disheartening opinions. Later on, the most obeyed amongst such hypocrites should be dealt with with certain consideration, so that their evil could stop; Directory: gifiles -> attach attach -> British Forces – Akrioti, Greece Griffin Fighter Squadron (84 Squadron raf) MoD announced possible Typhoon and Tornado arrivals to the base France attach -> Russia 110204 Basic Political Developments attach -> Unclassified//for official use only attach -> Adaptability Sustainment attach -> Pop-up 1 ("C" Chechnya) Header Text: Emir of the Caucasus Emirate Doku Umarov Image attach -> Russia and Islam are not Separate attach -> Chapter 13: The Northern Caucasus attach -> Russia 100209 Basic Political Developments attach -> The evolution attach -> The devolution Download 0.68 Mb. Share with your friends:
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