Latest news with #Al-Awlaki


Memri
09-06-2025
- Politics
- Memri
AQAP Leader Sa'ad Al-Awlaki Calls For Assassinations, Jihad Attacks On U.S. Officials – Including Trump, Vance, Rubio, Hegseth And Their Families - Elon Musk And His Companies, U.S. Military, Microsof
On June 8, 2025, Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) leader Sa'ad Bin Atef Al-Awlaki appeared in a video posted on in which he called for assassinations and attacks in the name of Jihad. He named President Trump, Vice President Vance, Secretary of State Rubio, Secretary of Defense Hegseth, Elon Musk, and their families as legitimate targets, along with anyone affiliated with the White House. Al-Awlaki stated that Jews in America should be targeted, and said that there are 16 million Muslims in Europe who must ensure that "not a single safe place" is left for Jews. Al-Awlaki urged Muslims to revive the "tradition of assassinations," describing it as the "greatest form of Jihad today." He said the targets should be the "leaders of apostasy," whom he labeled "Jewish Arabs," specifically naming the leaders of Egypt, Jordan, and the Gulf states. He appealed directly to military personnel in Arab countries, calling on them to take action. He said Arab pilots should strike "the Jews," U.S. military bases in the region, and American aircraft carriers. At the very least, he said, they should attack the palaces of Arab leaders, describing these as the "initial steps" that must be taken. Al-Awlaki claimed there are 4.5 million Muslims in the United States and said that they should carry out acts of retaliation without hesitation, stating: "Do not consult anyone about killing infidel Americans." Speaking over images of Manhattan skyscrapers, he said that the list of targets should be "effective," and declared: "There are no red lines." He called for attacks on U.S. government institutions such as the Senate, companies that support Israel or the U.S. military, including Microsoft and Elon Musk's businesses, and he urged hackers to strike both the American and Gulf economies. Al-Awlaki cited individuals who had carried out violence in the U.S., including Thomas Crooks, who attempted to assassinate Donald Trump in July 2024; Elias Rodriguez, who killed two Israeli embassy staffers in Washington, D.C. in May 2025; and Aaron Bushnell, who self-immolated in protest of U.S. support for Israel. He said that these men were not braver than Muslims who believe in Allah. He encouraged followers to study Inspire magazine, shown on screen with images and bomb-making instructions, and he concluded: "Revenge! Revenge! Let each do so with what he does best and excels at." Sa'ad Al-Awlaki: "Anyone who can revive the tradition of assassinations and is near the leaders of apostasy – those who support the war in Gaza with money, aid, and logistics, the Jewish Arabs, like the leaders of Egypt, Jordan, and all the rulers of the Arabian Peninsula – should not hesitate even for a moment. By Allah, [assassinations] are the greatest form of Jihad today. [...] "Those in the armies [of the Arab leaders] who have faith in their hearts, and fear Allah's punishment for abandoning their brothers in Palestine should make a move and do something now in these despicable and collaborating armies that protect the Jews and the apostate [Arab] rulers. This is especially true for the pilots. They should strike the Jews, the American military bases in the region, and the American aircraft carriers that are looming in the sea here. At the very least, they should strike the palaces of the treacherous Arab rulers – a dog's tail is just as impure as its head. [...] "As a first practical, and immediate measure, I call upon every Muslim in the infidel, criminal, and arrogant United States – and it does not matter if they are of Arab, American, or other descent, what matters is that they should be Muslims whose Prophet is Muhammad, and there are 4.5 million Muslims in America alone... I am saying to all of them: Revenge! Revenge! Do not consult anyone about killing infidel Americans. You should have a lot of determination and the list of your targets should be effective. Go after the scum of the earth and its greatest criminals. This is Trump and his VP. This is Elon Musk, his advisor and his supporter in terms of finance, administration, and technology. These are his Secretary of State and his Secretary of Defense. Go after their families, and all those who have any ties or are close to the politicians of the White House. There are no red lines after all that has been happening to our people in Gaza – the genocidal war, and the systematic, and deliberate killing of women, children, and the elderly. Reciprocal response is lawful, especially because they are continuing to kill our women and children in Palestine, Syria, Somalia, and Yemen. When they cease doing that, we will cease as well. "Go after the Senate – the parliament of the real Zionists. It is the den of evil and lair of pus and filth. Go after the institutions that support the Jews and the American government, like Microsoft, and all the companies that support the American Army, Air Force, or Navy, and any company that manufactures ammunition or other things. Go after Elon Musk's companies. They are legitimate targets, and so are all the similar companies that participate in the war against Muslims. "I say to the Knights of Hacking, the so-called 'hackers' among the Muslims, and to all the free people on earth who reject killing and crimes: Go after the American economy, as well as the economies of the Gulf countries that support and finance the Jews and the Americans. Do not cease doing that. Do not despair. We all do what we can do best. [...] "My Muslim brothers in America: The infidel American sniper Thomas Crooks was not braver than you are, in terms of self-sacrifice and death when he wanted to kill the tyrannical Trump. The same is true for the Christian Elias Rodriguez who recently killed two staff members of the Zionists' embassy in Washington, as well as Bushnell, the American soldier who self-immolated in front of the Jewish embassy in America, protesting their killing of Muslims. What are you doing, compared to these sacrifices? [...] "I advise you to read the English-language Inspire magazine. It contains a lot of guidance that will benefit every free person who is zealous for their religion. Let me remind you that the number of Jews in America is not small – there are about six million Jews [in the U.S.], about the same number as in Palestine. Moreover, a third of those in the occupied Palestinian lands have American citizenship. Our brothers in Europe: You are approximately 16 million strong. Do not leave a single safe place for Jews, just as they have not left any homes, shelters, or respite for the Palestinians. Even hospitals are being bombed over the heads of the sick and wounded, and the heads of the women, children, and the elderly. Revenge! Revenge! Let each do so with what he does best and excels at."


Boston Globe
08-06-2025
- Politics
- Boston Globe
Yemen's Al Qaeda branch leader threatens Trump, Musk, and others
Advertisement 'There are no red lines after what happened and is happening to our people in Gaza,' al-Awlaki said. 'Reciprocity is legitimate.' Though believed to be weakened in recent years due to infighting and suspected US drone strikes killing its leaders, the group known by the acronym AQAP had been considered the most dangerous branch of Al Qaeda still operating after the 2011 killing by US Navy SEALs of founder Osama bin Laden, who masterminded the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. In 2022, a US drone strike in Afghanistan killed bin Laden's successor, Ayman al-Zawahri, who also helped plot 9/11. The Sept. 11 attacks then began decades of war by the U.S. in Afghanistan and Iraq, and fomented the rise of the Islamic State group. Al-Awlaki already has a $6 million US bounty on his head, as Washington says al-Awlaki 'has publicly called for attacks against the United States and its allies.' He replaced AQAP leader Khalid al-Batarfi, whose death was announced by the group in 2024. Advertisement AQAP seizing on the Israel-Hamas war follows the efforts of Yemen's Houthi rebels to do the same. The Iranian-backed group has launched missile attacks on Israel and targeted commercial vessels moving through the Red Sea corridor, as well as American warships. The US Navy has described its campaign against the Houthis as the most intense combat it has faced since World War II. The Trump administration also launched its own intense campaign of strikes on the Houthis, which only ended before the president's recent trip to the Middle East. The Houthis' international profile rose as the group remains mired in Yemen's long-stalemated war. Al-Awlaki may be betting on the same for his group, which UN experts have estimated has between 3,000 and 4,000 active fighters and passive members. The group raises money by robbing banks and money exchange shops, as well as smuggling weapons, counterfeiting currencies, and ransom operations, according to the UN. The Shiite Zaydi Houthis have previously denied working with AQAP, a Sunni extremist group. However, AQAP targeting of the Houthis has dropped in recent years, while the militants keep attacking Saudi-led coalition forces who have battled the Houthis. 'As the Houthis gain popularity as leaders of the 'Arab and Muslim world's resistance' against Israel, al-Awlaki seeks to challenge their dominance by presenting himself as equally concerned about the situation in Gaza,' said Mohammed al-Basha, a Yemen specialist of the Basha Report risk advisory firm. 'For a national security and foreign policy community increasingly disengaged from Yemen, this video is a clear reminder: Yemen still matters.' Advertisement


Time of India
08-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
There are no red lines after ..., says Yemen's al-Qaida branch leader in warning to Elon Musk, Donald Trump Musk and others; Tesla logos in the threatening video
Saad bin Atef al-Awlaki, the leader of al-Qaida's Yemen branch, has issued threats against U.S. President Donald Trump and billionaire Elon Musk over the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza, according to a half-hour video message released early Saturday (May 8), as reported by the Associated Press (AP). In his first video since assuming leadership of al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) last year, al-Awlaki also urged lone-wolf militants to target leaders in Egypt, Jordan, and Gulf Arab states, citing the devastation in Gaza. The report notes that the video featured images of Trump, Musk, Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, and logos of Musk's companies, including Tesla. Al-Awlaki declared, 'There are no red lines after what happened and is happening to our people in Gaza. Reciprocity is legitimate,' per the AP. Despite AQAP's weakened state due to infighting and U.S. drone strikes, the group remains a significant threat, the AP reports, having been considered al-Qaida's most dangerous branch since the 2011 killing of Osama bin Laden. Al-Awlaki, who has a $6 million U.S. bounty on his head, replaced Khalid al-Batarfi, whose death AQAP announced in 2024, according to the report. The AP report highlights that AQAP's focus on the Israel-Hamas war mirrors the strategy of Yemen's Houthi rebels , who have attacked Israel and commercial vessels in the Red Sea. The U.S. Navy has faced its most intense combat since World War II against the Houthis, the AP states. Al-Awlaki may be seeking to boost AQAP's profile, with the group estimated by U.N. experts to have 3,000 to 4,000 fighters and supporters, funded through bank robberies, smuggling, and ransoms, per the report. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo Mohammed al-Basha, a Yemen expert cited by the AP, noted, 'As the Houthis gain popularity as leaders of the 'Arab and Muslim world's resistance' against Israel, al-Awlaki seeks to challenge their dominance by presenting himself as equally concerned about the situation in Gaza.' He added, 'For a national security and foreign policy community increasingly disengaged from Yemen, this video is a clear reminder: Yemen still matters.' AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
Yahoo
07-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Yemen's al-Qaeda leader threatens Trump, Musk over Israel's war on Gaza
The leader of al-Qaeda's Yemen branch has targeted US President Donald Trump and tech billionaire Elon Musk over United States backing for Israel's ongoing war on the Gaza Strip and its besieged Palestinian population. 'There are no red lines after what happened and is happening to our people in Gaza,' said Saad bin Atef al-Awlaki in a half-hour video message that was spread online Saturday by supporters of al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), the Yemeni branch of the armed group. 'Reciprocity is legitimate,' he said. Al-Awlaki's video message also included calls for so-called lone wolves to assassinate leaders in Egypt, Jordan and the Gulf Arab states over the war, which has decimated Gaza, killing at least 54,772 Palestinians over the past 20 months. The message featured images of Trump and Musk, US Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth, as well as logos of Musk's businesses – including electric carmaker Tesla. Born in 2009 from the merger of al-Qaeda's Yemeni and Saudi factions, AQAP is completely distinct from Yemen's Houthi rebel group, which controls most of the country and agreed to a ceasefire with the US earlier this grew and developed amid the chaos of Yemen's war, which has pitted the Houthis against a Saudi-led coalition backing the government since 2015. Al-Awlaki became the group's leader in 2024, replacing predecessor Khalid Batarfi, who died that year. He already has a $6m US bounty on his head, having, as Washington puts it, 'publicly called for attacks against the United States and its allies'. Though believed to be weakened in recent years due to infighting and suspected US drone strikes killing its leaders, the group had been considered the most dangerous branch of al-Qaeda still operating since the US killing of founder Osama bin Laden in 2011. United Nations experts estimate AQAP has between 3,000 and 4,000 active fighters and passive members, claiming that it raises money by robbing banks and money exchange shops, as well as by smuggling weapons, counterfeiting currencies and conducting ransom operations. The Houthis have previously denied working with AQAP, though the latter's targeting of the Houthis has dropped in recent years, while its fighters keep attacking the Saudi-led coalition forces. Now, with its focus on Israel's war on Gaza, AQAP appears to be following the lead of the Houthi group, which has launched missile attacks on Israel and targeted commercial vessels moving through the Red Sea in solidarity with Palestinians under Israeli fire. 'As the Houthis gain popularity as leaders of the 'Arab and Muslim world's resistance' against Israel, al-Awlaki seeks to challenge their dominance by presenting himself as equally concerned about the situation in Gaza,' said Mohammed al-Basha, a Yemen expert with the Basha Report risk advisory firm. 'For a national security and foreign policy community increasingly disengaged from Yemen, this video is a clear reminder: Yemen still matters,' he said.


Saba Yemen
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Saba Yemen
Shabwa Governor calls on Yemeni forces to rally around leader Al-Houthi
Sana'a - Saba: The Governor of Shabwa, Awad Al-Awlaki, called on all Yemeni political forces, especially in the occupied southern provinces, to unite around the leader of the revolution, Sayyid Abdulmalik Badruddin Al-Houthi, who champions the comprehensive national project for all Yemenis. He urged them to abandon partisan loyalties, multiple leaderships, and the ideologies of political factions. In a statement to the Yemeni News Agency (SABA), Governor Al-Awlaki emphasized the importance of all political forces working together to build the nation and serve its people. He noted that the experiences of past decades have proven that partisan extremism is the root cause of all problems in the developing world. He pointed out that the true solution for building Yemen lies in a national dialogue involving all Yemeni figures, one based on national rather than partisan interests. He affirmed that dialogue among Yemenis will pave the way for independent decision-making, achieving security , stability, and building a strong, prosperous Yemen free from foreign interference. "If the appropriate conditions are met, and we set aside personal and partisan interests, we will build a strong Yemen that regains its historical standing, which was lost due to conspiracies," he said. The Governor of Shabwa explained that the success of any revolution in the world depends on having a clear vision and unified leadership, as achieved in the glorious September 21 Revolution, which had a single leader and vision. He noted that the September 21 Revolution carried the project of sovereignty, dignity, and independence, with its foremost goals being liberation from foreign dependency and domination, and confidently moving toward building a unified Yemeni state, free from hollow slogans or divided loyalties. He expressed confidence that Sayyid Abdulmalik Al-Houthi will lead Yemen to safety and achieve social justice for all Yemenis through equitable participation in wealth and power, rebuilding a Yemen that has faced numerous conspiracies since the September 26 Revolution of 1962. Governor Al-Awlaki affirmed that the September 21 Revolution has accomplished many goals that previous revolutions failed to achieve. He clarified that the Quranic March, led by Sayyid Abdulmalik Al-Houthi, is grounded in a fundamental and unified reference—the Holy Quran—which obliges everyone to reject ideological and partisan theories that have historically proven unsuccessful. He highlighted that Sayyid Abdulmalik Al-Houthi's positions in supporting the Palestinian people and their just cause have not only been a source of pride for Yemen but also for the Arab , Islamic nations and all free people worldwide. This, he said, confirms that Sayyid Al-Houthi is a courageous leader with the wisdom and insight to guide Yemen. Al-Awlaki reiterated that Yemen's interest lies in continuing the Quranic March project and confidently advancing toward building a unified Yemen with sovereign decision-making, serving the nation's and the ummah's causes, foremost among them the Palestinian cause. Whatsapp Telegram Email Print more of (Local)