By Smartencyclopedia with Agencies
Mukalla – December 30, 2024
Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), the Yemen-based branch of the global terror network, announced on Sunday the execution of 11 individuals accused of espionage, including journalist Mohammed Al-Muqri. Al-Muqri, who worked for the Yemen Today channel, was abducted in October 2015 from his home in the city of Mukalla, Hadhramaut.
In a statement, AQAP revealed that Al-Muqri was executed shortly after his abduction, citing charges of espionage against national security. His death, along with those of the others executed, was disclosed following demands from families seeking clarity about the fates of their loved ones.
Accusations of Espionage
The group claimed the executed individuals included Naji A-Zuheiri, alleged to have collaborated with Yemen’s political security forces and the United States in connection with a 2002 drone strike in Marib, the first US drone operation in the Arabian Peninsula.
AQAP also identified the “Al-Bayda Cell,” a group of nine individuals captured in the Al-Somaa area before AQAP’s retreat from the region. The cell members were accused of spying for US intelligence, the UAE, and the Iran-backed Houthi militia.
AQAP’s Decline and Regional Operations
Once a dominant force in Yemen’s southern regions, AQAP has faced setbacks in recent years due to counter-terrorism campaigns by Yemeni forces, the Southern Transitional Council (STC), and the Saudi-led Coalition to Support Legitimacy in Yemen. These efforts liberated key territories, including Mukalla, previously under AQAP’s control.
The Yemeni government has consistently accused the Houthis of coordinating with AQAP and ISIS to destabilize liberated areas, including Aden, Abyan, and Shabwa. Security reports indicate the Houthis have released several al-Qaeda operatives from detention in exchange for strategic cooperation.
US Drone Strikes and Leadership Changes
The US has played a pivotal role in targeting AQAP leaders through drone strikes, notably in Shabwa, Marib, and Al-Bayda. In March, AQAP announced the death of its leader, Khalid Batarfi, and named Saad bin Atef al-Awlaki as his successor, though the circumstances surrounding Batarfi’s death remain unclear.
The Human Cost
The revelation of these executions highlights the enduring human toll of Yemen’s prolonged conflict and the complexity of combating terrorism in a fractured nation. Families of the executed individuals now face the grim reality of their loss amid the broader instability that continues to plague the region.
As AQAP struggles to maintain influence, the executions serve as both a brutal reminder of its capacity for violence and a signal of its weakened position in Yemen’s ongoing war.