As Yemen Disintegrates Al Qaeda Militants Consolidate Their Control In The Eastern Part Of The Country

Bruce Riedel, Al-Monitor: Al-Qaeda gains ground in Yemen war

Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) is the early winner in Yemen. With its hated enemies Saudi Arabia and the Zaydi Houthi rebels engaged in what may well be a protracted war, AQAP is flourishing in eastern Yemen and under less pressure than at any time since its founding in 2009.
On April 2, AQAP militants attacked the prison in Mukalla, the capital of Hadramawt province, releasing as many as 300 prisoners. Many were experienced al-Qaeda operatives. The attackers also destroyed government installations and weakened the already fragile security situation in Hadramawt.

Hadramawt is the ancestral home of Osama bin Laden's father. The eastern wing of Yemen, primarily Sunni, has long been a fertile recruiting area for al-Qaeda. It has never been under firm government control from Sanaa and has always had weak security.

More News On Al Qaeda In Yemen

Affiliate of Al Qaeda Seizes Major Yemeni City, Driving Out the Military -- NYT
Yemen's al-Qaida captures a major post city as rebels advance south -- AP
Al Qaeda takes control of eastern Yemeni city -- Long War Journal
​Al-Qaeda militants capture military base in southeast Yemen -- RT
Yemeni tribes enter coastal town to drive out al Qaeda -- Reuters
Al Qaeda takes over Mukalla army base in Yemen -- Deutsche Welle
Officials: Al Qaeda fighters free 270 from Yemeni prison -- CNN
This is bad: Al-Qaeda leads mass jailbreak in Yemen -- VOX
Pictured: Al-Qaeda commander posts gloating photos inside Yemen governor's palace just days after he was freed from prison by terrorists -- Daily Mail
The al-Qaeda commander at home in a governor's palace -- The Telegraph
‘Yemen will become al-Qaeda headquarters’ -- RT Op-Ed