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Fighting Al Qaeda in Yemen

Published January 19, 2015
People walk past a graffiti reading "Al Qaeda is American-made" at the site of a recent car bomb attack in Sanaa.
People walk past a graffiti reading "Al Qaeda is American-made" at the site of a recent car bomb attack in Sanaa.
Defendants look out from behind bars as they stand in the holding cell of the state security court in Sanaa.
Defendants look out from behind bars as they stand in the holding cell of the state security court in Sanaa.
A girl is seen in her family's flat damaged during a police raid on a nearby hideout of al Qaeda militants in the Arhab region north of the capital Sanaa.
A girl is seen in her family's flat damaged during a police raid on a nearby hideout of al Qaeda militants in the Arhab region north of the capital Sanaa.
The body of a man is seen tied to a soccer goal post after al Qaeda militants shot him to death, accusing him of spying for the United States outside al-Shihr city of the southeastern province of Hadhramout, March 6, 2014.
The body of a man is seen tied to a soccer goal post after al Qaeda militants shot him to death, accusing him of spying for the United States outside al-Shihr city of the southeastern province of Hadhramout, March 6, 2014.
A notebook belonging to an al Qaeda fighter, which was found in a former militant training camp in southern Yemen, July 8, 2014. The left page shows diagrams depicting various types of ambushes.
A notebook belonging to an al Qaeda fighter, which was found in a former militant training camp in southern Yemen, July 8, 2014. The left page shows diagrams depicting various types of ambushes.
Soldiers stand at a post which was previously controlled by al Qaeda insurgents in al-Mahfad, in the southern Yemeni province of Abyan.
Soldiers stand at a post which was previously controlled by al Qaeda insurgents in al-Mahfad, in the southern Yemeni province of Abyan.
Tribesmen loyal to the Shi'ite Houthi group attend a tribal gathering to show support to the group in Amran province north of the capital Sanaa.
Tribesmen loyal to the Shi'ite Houthi group attend a tribal gathering to show support to the group in Amran province north of the capital Sanaa.
Boys look at a vehicle destroyed during a police raid on a hideout of al Qaeda militants in the Arhab region, north of the capital Sanaa.
Boys look at a vehicle destroyed during a police raid on a hideout of al Qaeda militants in the Arhab region, north of the capital Sanaa.
People walk past graves which were dug up for soldiers killed in the Wadi Hadramout region in northeastern Yemen, at a military cemetery in Sanaa.
People walk past graves which were dug up for soldiers killed in the Wadi Hadramout region in northeastern Yemen, at a military cemetery in Sanaa.
People gather outside a house destroyed by an air strike on a suspected hideout of al Qaeda militants in al-Shiher city of Yemen's southeastern province of Hadramount.
People gather outside a house destroyed by an air strike on a suspected hideout of al Qaeda militants in al-Shiher city of Yemen's southeastern province of Hadramount.
An army soldier stands near a building destroyed during recent fighting between the army and al Qaeda-linked militants in the southern city of Zinjibar.
An army soldier stands near a building destroyed during recent fighting between the army and al Qaeda-linked militants in the southern city of Zinjibar.
Children play at a school sheltering them in the southern Yemeni port city of Aden.
Children play at a school sheltering them in the southern Yemeni port city of Aden.
Yemeni army forces fire a missile towards of al Qaeda-linked militants positions in the southern province of Abyan, June 4, 2012.
Yemeni army forces fire a missile towards of al Qaeda-linked militants positions in the southern province of Abyan, June 4, 2012.
An army tank fires during a firefight against militants linked to al Qaeda near the southern city of Zinjibar, May 30, 2012.
An army tank fires during a firefight against militants linked to al Qaeda near the southern city of Zinjibar, May 30, 2012.
Members of Yemen's elite Republican Guard and pro-army tribesmen gather for a group photo atop a military vehicle as they secure a road leading to Lawdar town in the southern province of Abyan.
Members of Yemen's elite Republican Guard and pro-army tribesmen gather for a group photo atop a military vehicle as they secure a road leading to Lawdar town in the southern province of Abyan.
A Yemeni army officer looks out from a tank while on a road leading to the southern city of Zinjibar, June 14, 2012.
A Yemeni army officer looks out from a tank while on a road leading to the southern city of Zinjibar, June 14, 2012.
A boy holds a candle during a candlelight vigil to condemn a suicide attack that killed over 100 soldiers in Sanaa, May 28, 2012.
A boy holds a candle during a candlelight vigil to condemn a suicide attack that killed over 100 soldiers in Sanaa, May 28, 2012.
A soldier looks at portraits of victims of a suicide attack, during a protest to condemn the attack that killed more than 90 soldiers, in Sanaa, May 29, 2012.
A soldier looks at portraits of victims of a suicide attack, during a protest to condemn the attack that killed more than 90 soldiers, in Sanaa, May 29, 2012.
A vehicle belonging to al Qaeda-linked militants and destroyed during clashes with the army, is seen at the front line in the southern province of Abyan.
A vehicle belonging to al Qaeda-linked militants and destroyed during clashes with the army, is seen at the front line in the southern province of Abyan.

According to Yemeni intelligence, both Cherif Kouachi and Said Kouachi, the two brothers who carried out a devastating attack on the offices of Charlie Hebdo, were trained in camps run by al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP). This has once more drawn attention to the militant organization’s territorial base: Yemen.

Yemen has been in a state of turmoil since the unification between north and south in 1990, and much of the latest unrest stems from sectarianism and endemic tribalism. The sectarian divisions have remained a dangerous fault line in the country, which AQAP is keen to exploit.

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Comments (3) Closed
Zia Ur Rehman Malik
Jan 21, 2015 05:08pm
This topic is very depressing, but is reality. Fight in the name of religion. This is not real Islam. Islam is religion of peace & harmony. Allah may keep my world & humanity safe. (Aameen)
Recommend 0
Javed USA
Jan 22, 2015 05:06am
@Zia Ur Rehman Malik Everyone says that but few follow.
Recommend 0
Ample reverence for Saudis
Jan 24, 2015 04:13pm
All part of conspiracy against Muslims after 9/11
Recommend 0

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