Yemen captures and kills senior al-Qaeda leaders

By Faisal Darem in Yemen
For Al-Shorfa.com
2010-01-18

[AHMAD GHARABLI/AFP/Getty Images] Yemeni troops parade in Dhamar, 90 kilometres south of Sanaa.

Undersecretary of the Ministry of Interior General Fadl al-Qousi said that Yemen has made significant progress in its fight against terrorism, as security forces have eliminated many of the terrorists' hideouts that have threatened local, regional and global security.

"The latest operations that took place around noon on Friday (January 15th) resulted in the killing of al-Qaeda leaders including Qassem al-Rimi, the military leader of al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, as well as the arrest of three other members, disguised in military uniforms, in Mafraq Elab in Saada province," al-Qousi told al-Shorfa during a phone interview on Sunday.

On Monday, al-Qaeda claimed that the members allegedly killed in the strike were alive, but that they had suffered "mild" injuries. There has been no independent confirmation of the claim.

Also Monday, Yemeni media reported the capture of Saeed al-Shehri, the second person in command of al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula.

Al-Qousi said that the security forces that "undertook, and continue to undertake, the military actions against al-Qaeda are purely Yemeni. These actions are the result of intelligence cooperation with Yemen's partners in the battle against terrorism, especially Saudi Arabia and the United States."

Citizens' co-operation, al-Qousi added, also played a big role in finding terrorists. He said that a notice, issued by the Ministry of Interior that warned citizens not to co-operate with or offer shelter terrorists bore fruit. "Joining the efforts of our armed and security forces with those of our citizens is sufficient to ensure victory over these outlaws who threaten the security and stability of our homeland," al-Qousi said. "Every terrorist or violator of the constitution, the regime and the law should understand that he is a legitimate target for our security and armed forces."

In the Friday operation, al-Qousi said, the Yemeni air force launched a raid on a number of al-Qaeda members who were on board two SUVs, a Land Cruiser and a Jeep, in Al-Ajasher, located between the provinces of Saada and Al-Jawf. The targeted terrorists included military leader Qassem al-Rimi, Ammar Ubada al-Waeli, Saleh Al-Teys and Ayed Jaber al-Shabwani, all al-Qaeda leaders, in addition to Abdullah Hadi Al-Teys and Abu Ayman Al-Masri (an Egyptian citizen), also known as Saleh Al-Jawfi, considered one of the most dangerous al-Qaeda leaders in Yemen and the ideological mastermind of the organisation.

The attack allegedly resulted in the killing of the six terrorists and the destruction of their two SUVs. Two other members, including Ammar Al-Waeli, managed to escape and are currently being pursued, according to al-Qousi.

On Saturday, security forces arrested a number of al-Qaeda members disguised in military uniforms, including "Ahmad Mohamad Sowaki al-Razihi, Yasser Dayfallah Hussein al-Zabei al-Razihi, and Ahmad Mohamad Saleh al-Himi in Mafraq Elab in Saada. They were carrying weapons, explosives, leaflets and fliers that called for uprising and the killing of anyone that stands in their way", al-Qousi said. He added that military units were sent to Al Bayda, Abyan, Shabwah, Marib and Al-Jawf in pursuit of al-Qaeda members.

Al-Qousi said that the latest operations against al-Qaeda and key leaders such as al-Rimi and al-Mehdar, are a message for both Yemen and the world, showing that Yemen is determined and capable of ending al-Qaeda's presence on its lands.

He said that the battle against al-Qaeda members will "persist until they have all perished", predicting that this will happen in the foreseeable future.

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