A senior operative of Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), Abu Yusuf al-Muhammadi al-Hadrami, has been killed in a motorcycle bomb explosion in Marib, Yemen. This incident occurred near his workplace, marking a significant loss for the extremist organization known for its involvement in numerous high-profile attacks.
AQAP, considered the most dangerous branch of Al-Qaeda by the United States, was established in 2009 through the merger of the Yemeni and Saudi factions of the group. The organization’s growth has been fueled by the ongoing conflict in Yemen, which began in 2015 and has seen the Iran-backed Houthi rebels engaged in a protracted struggle against a Saudi-led coalition. Amid this turmoil, AQAP has managed to operate and expand its influence.
The group has a notorious history, being implicated in several devastating terrorist attacks. Among its most infamous acts was the bombing of the USS Cole in 2000, which resulted in the deaths of 17 U.S. military personnel off the coast of Aden. Moreover, AQAP claimed responsibility in 2015 for the actions of two gunmen who carried out the massacre at the Paris offices of Charlie Hebdo, a tragedy that killed 12 people and marked a pivotal moment in global discussions on terrorism and freedom of expression.
Today, AQAP remains one of several armed factions active in areas of Yemen not controlled by the Houthi rebels. In addition to AQAP, the landscape includes Islamist State jihadists and various militias trained by the United Arab Emirates, contributing to a complex and violent dynamic as the country continues to suffer from instability and unrest.
