The leader of al-Qaeda’s Yemen branch has issued a stark warning against US President Donald Trump and tech billionaire Elon Musk, condemning America’s backing of Israel’s ongoing conflict in Gaza. In a half-hour video released online by supporters of al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) on Saturday, Saad bin Atef al-Awlaki declared that “there are no red lines” following the devastation faced by Palestinians in Gaza.
Al-Awlaki demanded “reciprocity” and incited lone-wolf attacks against Egyptian, Jordanian, and Gulf Arab leaders aligned with Israel. The video showcased pictures of Trump, Musk, US Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, and Musk’s business organizations, such as Tesla.
AQAP, which was created in 2009 through the unification of al-Qaeda’s Yemeni and Saudi factions, is distinct from Yemen’s Houthi rebels, who recently signed a US-imposed ceasefire. The organization proliferated during Yemen’s current civil war, in which the Houthis have been battling a Saudi-led coalition backing the Yemeni government since 2015.
Al-Awlaki succeeded in 2024 following the demise of his predecessor Khalid Batarfi and has a $6 million US price on his head for openly advocating attacks on the US and its allies. Although weakened in recent years by internal fighting and US drone attacks, AQAP is still among the most dangerous al-Qaeda affiliates.
UN officials put AQAP’s active strength at between 3,000 and 4,000 fighters, financing activities from bank heists, smuggling, counterfeiting, and kidnappings for ransom. Although AQAP attacks on Houthis have abated, its militants keep up their attacks on the Saudi-led coalition.
With its fresh emphasis on Gaza, AQAP appears to be following the Houthis’ lead, who themselves have launched missiles at Israel and attacked Red Sea shipping to support Palestinians. Yemen specialist Mohammed al-Basha cautions that though international focus is decreasing, “Yemen still matters” when it comes to world security.
