Yemeni al-Qaida leader issues threats to Trump, Musk over Gaza conflict
There are no limits after what has been done to our people in Gaza,” al-Awlaki declared, calling retaliation "legitimate"
The head of al-Qaida's Yemen-based affiliate has issued threats against US President Donald Trump, tech mogul Elon Musk, and other high-profile figures in a video addressing the Israel-Hamas war.
This marks the first public video from Saad bin Atef al-Awlaki since he assumed leadership of al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) last year.
The 30-minute video, shared online by AQAP supporters early Saturday, calls on individual attackers to assassinate political leaders in Egypt, Jordan, and the Gulf states due to their positions on the war in Gaza, which has caused massive destruction.
Al-Awlaki's video featured images of Trump, Musk, US Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. It also displayed logos of Musk's companies, including Tesla.
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"There are no limits after what has been done to our people in Gaza," al-Awlaki declared, calling retaliation "legitimate."
AQAP Once Viewed as al-Qaida's Most Dangerous Arm
While AQAP's capabilities have reportedly diminished due to internal conflict and US drone strikes, it was long regarded as al-Qaida's most dangerous offshoot. The group emerged prominently after US forces killed Osama bin Laden in 2011. His successor, Ayman al-Zawahri—also a key figure behind the 9/11 attacks—was killed in 2022 by a US drone in Afghanistan.
Al-Awlaki, now AQAP's leader, carries a $6 million US reward for information leading to his capture. The US accuses him of inciting attacks against the US and its allies. He took over the group after the death of Khalid al-Batarfi, announced in 2024.
Gaza Conflict a Rallying Point for Militants
AQAP's renewed activity around the Gaza conflict echoes the tactics of Yemen's Houthi rebels, who have fired missiles at Israel, attacked Red Sea shipping lanes, and targeted US Navy vessels. The US Navy described its engagement with the Houthis as its most intense combat since World War II.
The Trump administration had previously escalated strikes on the Houthis, a campaign that paused just before the president's recent Middle East trip.
With the Houthis gaining international attention for positioning themselves as defenders of Palestinian rights, analysts say AQAP may be trying to reassert its relevance. According to UN estimates, the group has 3,000 to 4,000 members and funds itself through robbery, smuggling, ransom demands, and counterfeiting.
Though AQAP and the Shiite Houthi movement are on opposing ideological sides—the former Sunni, the latter Shiite—their direct confrontations have decreased. AQAP has continued instead to target the Saudi-led coalition that opposes the Houthis.
"Al-Awlaki is attempting to challenge the Houthis' rising influence by portraying himself as just as committed to Gaza's cause," said Yemen expert Mohammed al-Basha of the Basha Report. "For those who may have turned their attention away from Yemen, this message is a stark reminder that Yemen's security dynamics remain highly relevant."
