logo
#

Latest news with #AQAP

Islamist terror leader calls for assassinations of Trump, JD Vance over pro-Israel views in disturbing video: ‘Take revenge'
Islamist terror leader calls for assassinations of Trump, JD Vance over pro-Israel views in disturbing video: ‘Take revenge'

New York Post

time34 minutes ago

  • Politics
  • New York Post

Islamist terror leader calls for assassinations of Trump, JD Vance over pro-Israel views in disturbing video: ‘Take revenge'

The leader of a heinous Islamist terror group has called for President Trump and scores of his top advisors to be assassinated as revenge for their pro-Israel stances, The Post has learned. Sa'ad bin Atef al-Awlaki, the newest leader of al-Qa'ida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) group, issued the disturbing call in a propaganda video released on Sunday — as he encouraged Muslims in the US to 'take revenge,' sources confirmed. Sa'ad bin Atef al-Awlaki issued the disturbing call in a propaganda video released on Sunday. Memri TV 'Do not consult anyone about killing infidel Americans,' he said in the sick clip. 'Go after the scum of the earth and its greatest criminals. These are Trump and his vice president [JD Vance], his advisor and his supporters in terms of finance, administration, and technology.' Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and even Elon Musk were among the advisors named, sources said. 'Go after them and 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.' Elsewhere, al-Awlaki — who the US State Department has issued a $6 million bounty for — praised suspects who have carried out a spate of recent antisemitic terror attacks, as well as those behind the prior assassinations attempts on Trump's life. President Trump speaks at the White House on June 9, 2025. REUTERS In the 34-minute video — titled 'Inciting the Believers' — the terror leader called, too, for 'strikes' on all Jews. 'Do not leave a single safe place for Jews — just as they have not left any homes, shelters, or respite for the Palestinians,' he said. 'Even hospitals are being bombed over the heads of the sick and wounded, and the heads of the women, children and the elderly. Take revenge.' AQAP has long been designated a foreign terrorist group by the US. Al-Awlaki, who took over as leader of the Yemen-based group in March 2024, has the $6 million bounty on his head for previously calling for attacks against the US.

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
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

Memri

time17 hours ago

  • 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."

Yemen's Al Qaeda branch leader threatens Trump, Musk, and others
Yemen's Al Qaeda branch leader threatens Trump, Musk, and others

Boston Globe

time2 days ago

  • 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

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
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

Time of India

time2 days ago

  • 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

Yemen's Al-Qaeda branch leader threatens Trump, Musk, and others - Region
Yemen's Al-Qaeda branch leader threatens Trump, Musk, and others - Region

Al-Ahram Weekly

time2 days ago

  • Politics
  • Al-Ahram Weekly

Yemen's Al-Qaeda branch leader threatens Trump, Musk, and others - Region

The leader of Al-Qaeda's Yemen branch has threatened both U.S. President Donald Trump and billionaire Elon Musk over the Israeli war on the Gaza Strip in his first video message since taking over the group last year. The half-hour video message by Saad bin Atef al-Awlaki, which spread online early Saturday via supporters of Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, also included calls for lone-wolf militants to assassinate leaders in Egypt, Jordan, and the Gulf Arab states over the war, which has decimated Gaza. The video of al-Awlaki's speech showed images of Trump and Musk, as well as U.S. Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth. It also included images of logos of Musk's businesses, including the electric carmaker Tesla. 'There are no red lines after what happened and is happening to our people in Gaza," al-Awlaki said. "Reciprocity is legitimate.' Yemen's Al-Qaeda branch long thought to be most dangerous Though believed to be weakened in recent years due to infighting and suspected U.S. 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 U.S. Navy SEALs of founder Osama bin Laden, who masterminded the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. In 2022, a U.S. 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 U.S. 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. The Israeli war is a focus of the Houthis as well AQAP seizing onto the Israeli war on Gaza 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 U.S. 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 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 U.N. 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 conducting ransom operations, according to the U.N. The Shia 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 expert 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.' Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store