Al Qaeda Continues To Expand And Grow In Yemen And Syria

Members of al-Qaeda-affiliated al-Nusra Front move toward their positions during an offensive to take control of the northwestern city of Ariha from forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. (Ammar Abdullah/Reuters)

Washington Post: Quietly, al-Qaeda offshoots expand in Yemen and Syria

BEIRUT — Al-Qaeda affiliates are significantly expanding their footholds in Syria and Yemen, using the chaos of civil wars to acquire territory and increase their influence, according to analysts, residents and intelligence officials.

The gains have helped the terror group’s affiliates become major players in the countries and have complicated efforts to resolve the conflicts. Al-Qaeda offshoots could also be gaining sanctuaries to eventually plan attacks against the United States and Europe, analysts say.

In Syria, al-Qaeda’s wing, Jabhat al-Nusra, plays a leading role in a new rebel coalition that has captured key areas in the northwestern part of the country. In Yemen, al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) has seized parts of the country’s largest province, territory that includes military bases, an airfield and ports.

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