Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula
Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (Arabic: تنظيم القاعدة في جزيرة العرب, romanized: Tanẓīm al-Qā‘idah fī Jazīrat al-‘Arab, lit. 'Organization of the Base in the Arabian Peninsula' or تنظيم قاعدة الجهاد في جزيرة العرب, Tanẓīm Qā‘idat al-Jihād fī Jazīrat al-‘Arab, "Organization of Jihad's Base in the Arabian Peninsula"), abbreviated as AQAP,[7] also known as Ansar al-Sharia in Yemen (Arabic: جماعة أنصار الشريعة, Jamā‘at Anṣār ash-Sharī‘ah, "Group of the Helpers of the Sharia"),[30] is a Sunni Islamist insurgent extremist group, which is part of the al-Qaeda network and primarily active in Yemen and Saudi Arabia.[7][31] It is considered the most active[32] of al-Qaeda's branches that emerged after the weakening of central leadership.[33]
al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula
Nasir al-Wuhayshi † (2011–15)[1]
Qasim al-Raymi † (2015–20)[2]
Khalid Batarfi# (2020–2024)[3]
Sa'ad bin Atef al-Awlaki (2024-present)[4]
January 2009 – present[5]
Mukalla, Hadhramaut Governorate[6](2015–2016)
Wadi Belharith and Azzan in Shabwah Governorate[6]
Wadi Obaidah in Ma'rib Governorate[6]
Rada'a District in Al Bayda Governorate[6]
Mudiyah and Lawdar in Abyan Governorate[6]
Non-state allies:
al-Shabaab (2009–present)[22]- al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (2009–2017)
al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (2014–present)
Al-Nusra Front (2012–2017)[23]
Non-State opponents
State opponents
- Operation Blow to the Head
- Battle of Zinjibar
- Siege of Dammaj
- Battle of Dofas
- First Battle of Lawdar
- Battle of Radda
- 2012 Abyan offensive
- 2012 Sana'a bombing
- 2013 Sana'a attack
- Al Bayda Governorate Clashes (2012–13)
- Al Bayda Governorate Clashes (2013–14)
Yemeni Civil War (2014–present)
- Siege of Al Bayda Governorate
- Battle of Mukalla (2015)
- Battle of Mukalla (2016)
- Hadramaut insurgency
- Abyan campaign (March–August 2015)
- Al Bayda Offensive (2015–16)
- Fall of Zinjibar and Jaar
- Abyan campaign
- Aden unrest
- Shabwah Governorate offensive
- Abyan conflict
- Raid on Yakla
- Raid on Al Hathla
The group established an emirate during the 2011 Yemeni Revolution, which waned in power after foreign interventions in the subsequent Yemeni Civil War. The group has been designated a terrorist organization by the United Nations, United States, Saudi Arabia, UAE and several countries.