Al-Qaeda Leader in Yemen Threatens Trump, Musk, and Arab Leaders Over Gaza War
In a newly released video, Saeed bin Atif al-Awlaki, the leader of Al-Qaeda’s Yemeni branch, issued threats against former U.S. President Donald Trump, billionaire Elon Musk, and several American officials, while also calling for the assassination of Arab leaders over the ongoing war in Gaza, The Washington Post reported Saturday.
The 30-minute video includes images of Trump, Musk, U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth. Logos of Musk’s companies, including Tesla, were also displayed.
Al-Awlaki, in his message shared by pro-Al-Qaeda outlets, declared: “There are no red lines after what has happened in Gaza... Retaliation is justified.” He urged lone-wolf attackers to act against leaders in Egypt, Jordan, and Gulf countries.
Despite internal conflicts and years of U.S. drone strikes that weakened its leadership, the report notes that Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) remains active and is seeking to regain global relevance by leveraging the Gaza conflict—similar to how Iran-backed Houthi rebels have used the war to justify attacks on Israeli and Western interests.
Mohammed Al-Basha, a Yemen expert at Pasha Reports, noted: “As the Houthis gain popularity in the Arab world as leaders of the anti-Israel resistance, Al-Awlaki is positioning himself as a rival by portraying similar concern for Gaza.”
The U.S. State Department’s “Rewards for Justice” program had previously offered a $6 million reward for information leading to the capture of al-Awlaki, who is accused of inciting terrorist attacks against the U.S. and its allies.
Comments