Al-Qaida Leader Claims Group Fought Alongside US-Backed Forces in Yemen

[TomSea]

Al-Qaida Leader Claims Group Fought Alongside US-Backed Forces in Yemen

The leader of al-Qaida' branch in Yemen says his militants have often fought alongside Yemeni government factions - remarks that could embarrass the U.S.-backed coalition fighting the impoverished Arab country's Shiite rebels.

Qasim al-Rimi leads the group known as Al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula, considered by Washington to be the most dangerous offshoot of the global terror network.

He says al-Qaida militants have on occasion fought alongside Yemeni government factions, including "the Muslim Brotherhood and also our brothers among the sons of tribes" against Yemen's Shiite rebels known as Houthis.

Continued: http://www.voanews.com/a/al-qaida-claims-group-fought-alongside-us-backed-forces/3832622.html

Note, Rand Paul's words in the editorial posted Satuday. Per the US raid on Yemen a few months ago:

The raid killed al-Qaeda operatives who, while likely enemies of ours, were actually fighting the same people the Saudis are fighting: the Houthi rebels.

To emphasize, the Saudis and al-Qaeda are fighting a common enemy in the Houthi rebels. In essence, we sent Navy Seals into Yemen to kill people who actually were fighting a common enemy.

In a country where so many factions are fighting, it is nearly impossible to distinguish friend from foe.

-  http://rare.us/rare-politics/issues/foreign-policy/rand-paul-the-u-s-should-not-fund-saudi-arabias-war-on-yemen/

[Cripplecreek]

I was pointing out when I was still at TOS that in a list of the various factions fighting in Syria and Yemen Wiki showed us on the same side as Al Qeada in Syria and on the opposite side as Al Qeada in Yemen. Its a convoluted mess not worth our time.

Our only true allies in the region are Israel, Jordan and Egypt (along with the kurds)

[TomSea]

This Al Qaeda group at the same time, may and probably attacks the government forces as well.

We have attacked Al Qaeda in Yemen since the Obama administration, getting kingpin and American-born Al Awlaki who was the advisor to Hassan who shot up Fort Hood.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anwar_al-Awlaki

By David Morgan CBS/AP September 30, 2011, 12:08 PM
Who was Anwar al-Awlaki?
last Updated 8:17 a.m. ET

Multiple U.S. sources have confirmed that American-born jihadist cleric Anwar al-Awlaki is dead, killed in a drone strike in Yemen that comes just months after the death of Osama bin Laden.

Awlaki was near the top of the U.S. terror hit list, said CBS News Homeland Security correspondent Bob Orr, and his death is another major setback for al Qaeda.

As a charismatic speaker fluent in English, Awlaki was a leading propagandist and recruiter. His fiery sermons resonated with radicals in the U.S. and Britain, and his group, al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), is actively recruiting Westerners with an online magazine called Inspire, with the latest edition coming out this week.

...

He was also linked directly to two terror attacks on the U.S. in 2009. Email exchanges between Awlaki and accused Fort Hood shooter gunman Nidal Hasan confirm that the al Qaeda leader was the inspiration for the massacre at a Texas army base that left 13 people dead.

In a May 2010 video Awlaki praised Hasan, and called the Ft. Hood shooting "an heroic and wonderful act." He also called for the killing of American civilians.

Continued: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/who-was-anwar-al-awlaki/