Al Qaeda en la Península Arábiga (AQAP) - Yemen-Arabia Saudí

[Esteban]

La Fundación Jamestown es una buena referencia. No tan conocida como otras, pero a mi me gusta bastante, y ha hecho referencia a trabajos de autores españoles en temas de yihadismo.

Lo del MP, a tu disposición; en lo referente al tema de Somalia, ojo, que ya tenemos uno abierto en

admin/index.php?admin=1&sid=1964d912c46 ... 8d815c6958

Normalmente los moderadores tratan de agrupar los post para manejar mejor todos los datos que se aportan sobre cada tema.

Si te fijas en la distribución de los temas relacionados con el yihadismo, hace meses se decidió seguir una lógica de agrupamiento de zonas de influencia según los "cluster" de que habla Marc Sageman, con unas ligeras adaptaciones al caso español.

[Pelayo70]

Aparte del Yemen Tmes, te recomiendo estos dos link:

http://www.yobserver.com/; competidor del times.
http://www.yemenweb.com/index.htm; habla de temas más de tipo "social", aunque dan una buena perspectiva socio-política de Yemen

Saludos

[Esteban]

Gracias por los links. Sobre prensa en Yemen, tenemos

http://www.arabji.com/Yemen/media.htm

Matizar que el link bueno para el periódico de las FAS yemeníes "26 de septiembre" (está en árabe) es
http://www.26september.info/home/index.php

El buscador de artículos y noticias de la Fundación Jamestown proporciona más de 470 artículos sobre Yemen y los problemas de insurgencia, terrorismo, al Qaeda, reeducación de yihadistas, etc, etc.

Otra fuente de noticias es el blog http://armiesofliberation.com/ que recoge denuncias de periodistas yemeníes habitualmente represaliados por el régimen con censuras y cosas así.

Por ejemplo, un buen repaso con nombres y apellidos al stablishment en Yemen:

February 15, 2007

Yemen's Military: A Corrupt Criminal Mafia

The Yemeni Defense Ministry recently arrested journalist Abdulkarim Al-Khaiwani for writing an article about the military. Al-Khaiwani was previously imprisoned in 2004 for an opinion article. Upon his release, the regime cloned his newspaper and threatened his kids. The Yemeni government is very sensitive about any reporting about the military, so lets do it here at Jawa.

The majority of top military commanders are direct relatives of Yemeni President Saleh. There's widespread corruption in the huge military budget. Some military commanders train jihaddists to go to Iraq and kill US troops. They frequently steal land by force. Lets start with the family connections. I asked a couple of people for an outline once. This is what I got back:

Ahmed Ali Abdullah Saleh, Special Forces and Republican Guards Commander including counter-terrorism, Eldest Son, Al-Haj Company For Heavy Equipments and Cars

Ali Mohsen Al-Hamar, Commander of Northern/ Western regions, Half brother, Hawan For Petroleum Services and Alraida Group for Engineering.

Khalid Alarhabi, Deputy Chief of The Presidential Palaces, Son in-law, Yemen Space Company

Mohamed Saleh Al-Hamar, Air Force Commander, Half Brother, Alhashidi Petroleum Company

Yahya Mohamed Abdullah Saleh, Commander Of Security Central Forces, Nephew, Almass Company For Petroleum Services and Ha Wi Cable Chinese Company

Mohamed Saleh Al-Hamar Air Force Commander Half Brother

Tarke Mohamed Abdullah Saleh, Commander Private Forces, Nephew

Yahya Mohamed Abdullah Saleh, Commander Of Security Central Forces, Nephew

Amar Mohamed Abdullah Saleh, Deputy National Security Organization, Nephew

Ahmed Abdullah Al-Hajry, Governor of Taiz, Brother in law to second wife

Abdu-Wahab Abdullah Alhajry, Ambassador to Washington D.C,. Brother in law to second wife

theres more:

Abul-Rahman Alkwaa Minster of Youth and Sports Brother in law to third wife

Khalid Abdul-Rahman Alkwaa Under Secretary, Foreign Ministry Son of The Brother in-law

Khalid Alarhabi Deputy Chief of The Presidential Palaces Son in-law

Abdl-Kareem Al-Arhabi, Minister of Planning and International Co-Operation In-law

Tawfick Saleh Abdullah Saleh, Chairman of The National Tobacco Company, Nephew

Abdul-Khalek Al-Qadi Chairman of Yemenia Airways, Son in-law

Tawfik Abdul-Raheem The sole distributor of Oil & Gas products Business Partner

Shaher Abul-Haq Saba Mobile Phones, Mercedes-Benz, Coca Cola, Yemen International bank, Oil Exploration Business Partner

Ahmed Al-Kohlani, Governor of Aden and member of parliament, Father in law to President Saleh's 18 year old last bride (he has four wives you know), Alraida Group for Engineering.

oh lookie, list b

MILITARY

1-Brigaider General Mohamed Saleh Al-Ahmar, Commander of the Air Force
half brother of president Saleh ( one mother ).
2-Brigaider General Ali Saleh Al-Ahmar, chief of staff of the general command half brother of president Saleh.
3-Brigaider General Ali Mohsen Al-Ahmar, commander of the first tank division , commander of the north western military zone .
half brother of president Saleh.
4-Brigaider General Mehdi Makwala, commander of the southern military zone ( Hashd tribe and Sanhan village of Saleh ).( Aden Zone )
5-Brigaider General Mohammed Ali Mohsen, Commander of the Eastern
Military Zone ( Hadramout ).(Hashed Tribe and Sanhan Village of President Saleh )
6-Colonel Ahmed Ali Abdullah Saleh , Commander of the Republican Guards and Commander of the Special Forces. son of the President Saleh .
7-Colonel Yahya Mohamed Abdullah Saleh , commander of the Central ecurity Forces . son of Saleh’s brother .
8-Colonel Tareq Mohammed Abdullah Saleh, Commander of the Special Guards. son of Saleh’s brother Mohammed.
9-Colonel Ammar Mohammed Abdullah Saleh , Chairman of the National Security.son of Saleh’s brother Mohammed.
10-Brigaider General Saleh Al-Dhaneen , commander of Khaled Forces ( Hashed tribe and Sanhan Village of Saleh. )

COMMERCIAL

1- Ali Abdullah Saleh Al-Gar Farm . Huge farm for fruits mainly Mango , exporting its productions to Saudi-Arabia and Gulf States .
-Partner of Tawfiq Group for Fuel ( covering large scale of activities in the field of fuel .
- The Economy Establishment ( previously the Military Economic
Corporation) .
2- Ali Mohsen Saleh Al-Ahmar and his son Mohsen Ali Mohsen
Hadwan Oil Services and Support.
Pioneer Engenering Group.
3-Yahia Mohamed Abdullah Saleh( son of his brother Mohamed )
Al-Maz Group ( dealing with cotton plantations, tourizm, trade of weapons
and oil activities .
Hawai Cables Company .
4- Mohammed Saleh Al-Ahmar ( half brother of Saleh )
Al-Hashdi Petroluem Company .
5-Ahmed Al-Kuhlani.( brother in-law of Saleh and Governor of Aden ) Pioneer Engenering Group
Al-Atheer Contracting Company.
Gavlar Special Company .
6-Khaled Al-Arhabi ( brother in-law of Ahmed Ali Abdullah Saleh )
Yemen Space Company .
7-Saleh Al-Dhaneen ( number 10 above )
Raidaan Contracting Company , works in roads , districts roads, Taiz roads, and football stadium .
8- Ali Al-Shater , chairman of the political directorate of the armed forces and editor of the 26 September newspaper. ( his son Bassam Ali Al-Shater ) Al-Qusoor Contracting Company , dealing in contracts with ministry of defence from buildings to supply etc.
9-Abdul Salam Ghaleb Al-hamesh ( son of chairman of political security )
Al-Kaoon company for Communications.and oil support and Services.
10-Noman Duwaeed and Ali Ahmed Duwaeed ( brother in-law to Saleh )
The Yemen International United Company
dealing in heavy duty equipment, manufacturing, factories of cements ,etc.

Por familia no será 8)

[Pelayo70]

De todos los Saleh, aparte del Presidente, claro, no hay que perder de vista a Amar Mohamed Abdullah Saleh, Deputy National Security Organization (bueno es National Security Bureau, NSB). Sin duda, en el futuro dará que hablar el sobrino favorito del presi.

Oye, échale un vistazo al libro "Osama de cerca", de Peter L. Bergen. Editorial Debate,Barcelona, 2007. Muy interesante

Saludos

[Esteban]

Tomo nota de la reseña. Sobre ayuda económica y miliatar de los EEUU a Yemen

Money and Weapons for Yemen

Comparatively, its not a lot. They could up “child heath and survival”.

CNS
The list (U.S. military aid programs) also includes countries such as Kazakhstan ($2 million), Nigeria ($1.35 million) and Yemen ($4.676 million), all of which the State Department says have serious problems with human rights.

US weapons sales: CNS http://www.cnsnews.com/cns/pdf/2007/US% ... 202006.xls

Source: UN Register of Conventional Arms

Year Receiving Country Number of Weapons Systems Weapons System
2006 Yemen 30 M113A2 APC
2006 Yemen 2 M577A2 Command Carrier

CDI http://www.cdi.org/PDFs/yemen.pdf

Military assistance dropping

2003 $3,901,960
2004 $18,738,000
2005 $19,591,000

2006 $15,706,000
2007 $13,461,000

State Dept request for 23 milion for State Department and USAID Bilateral Assistance

page 524
YEMEN
Developing
Obstacles and Opportunities for Advancing Transformational Diplomacy
Yemen continues to be an essential U.S. partner in the war on terrorism. While the U.S. and Yemen have made great progress in uprooting the al-Qaida presence in the country, Yemen requires continued U.S. material support to be successful in its ongoing counterterrorism efforts.

The Government of Yemen (GOY) has undertaken significant strides toward opening its multiparty political system to full public participation, and to include women. Yemen is evolving into a multi-party democracy and is slowly taking necessary steps to move its economy away from oil
dependence. U.S. assistance to Yemen is critical to ensure that these policies continue on track and serve as an example to other countries in the region.

Yemen is one of the world’s poorest countries, and its pressing economic and development needs are a complicating factor in its struggle to root out terrorist elements. U.S. development assistance will focus on high and fast impact services in health, basic education, agriculture and democratic reform. Development assistance will be targeted to poor and remote governorates where the U.S. Government and the GOY are seeking the support of the Yemeni tribes in the war on terrorism.

Resources to Help Advance Transformational Diplomacy

Request by Objective
($ in thousands) 2006 Actual 2007 Estimate 2008 Request
Peace & Security 10,780 * 10,226
Governing Justly & Democratically 1,109 * 6,450
Investing in People 5,732 * 6,383
Economic Growth 1,079 * 0
Total 18,700 * 23,059

Request by Account
($ in thousands) 2006 Actual 2007 Estimate 2008 Request

Child Survival and Health 0 * 4,383
Economic Support Fund 7,920 * 8,450
Foreign Military Financing 8,415 * 4,676
International Military Education & Training 924 * 1,000
International Narcotics Control and Law Enforcement 0 * 500
Nonproliferation, Antiterrorism & Demining 1,441 * 4,050
Total 18,700 * 23,059

Peace and Security ($10.2 million): Funding supports the ongoing, three-pronged security assistance program that focuses on developing Yemeni Counter-Terrorism Unit and Special Operations Forces capabilities, building a viable Coast Guard, and improving military capacity to
conduct security missions. Yemen is eligible in FY 2008 to receive Excess Defense Articles (EDA) on a grant basis under Section 516 of the Foreign Assistance Act, which would finance the continued development of a coast guard and military forces.

The FMF and IMET funds will continue to directly support U.S. counterterrorism goals through the ongoing design, development, and facilitation of a National Counter Terrorist Coordination Center, whose express 525 mission will be to coordinate all counter terrorist operations and enhance communication between the armed forces. NADR funding supports export control and related border security assistance (EXBS) efforts and small arms and light weapons programs. NADR/Anti-terrorism Assistance is requested for newly developed advanced courses and continued training designed to sustain Yemen’s counterterrorism training capabilities.

NADR/Terrorism Interdiction Program assistance is requested implement new and increased program operations and equipment that Yemen will use in support of the ongoing war on terrorism.

Governing Justly ($6.5 million): U.S. assistance will promote democratic development in Yemen by supporting activities to strengthen Parliament, train party officials and local councils, improve electoral participation and processes, support conflict resolution, and strengthen the capacity of non-governmental organizations and community based organizations in Yemen. The United States will work to strengthen the capacity of representative institutions, including Parliament and local councils. USAID will continue support for strengthening Parliament with an emphasis on improving governance through legislative reform. In 2006, USAID signed an agreement with the Government of Yemen to support transparency and anti-corruption efforts in Yemen.

USAID will continue to promote anti-corruption activities by partnering with the High Tender Board, the Central Organization for Control and Audit and the tax authority’s Legal Department, and by providing technical assistance to the Journalists’ Syndicate and the Supreme Judicial Council. USAID will also support media capacity, empowerment of women in the legal profession, and tribal conflict mitigation. Finally, U.S. assistance will provide technical assistance for monitoring the upcoming elections and the development of civil society and rule of law.

Investing in People ($6.4 million): In the health sector, U.S. assistance will provide technical assistance, immunizations, training, and medical equipment; renovate hospitals and clinics; and foster community mobilization through religious leaders. In order to improve maternal and child health, family planning, and reproductive health, USAID will train 450 health workers, renovate 15 health facilities, and provide six mobile health units. In education, U.S. assistance will continue to fund the renovation of 77 schools including the construction of 8 multi-purpose rooms large enough to hold 100 people. It will also embark on training school and ministry of education employees on data collection and the use of data for decision making.

The U.S. is committed to supporting the Government of Yemen’s efforts to improve basic education, especially for women and girls, by providing enhanced access to quality primary education.

Request by Element
($ in Thousands) 2006 Actual 2007 Estimate 2008 Request

TOTAL 18,700 * 23,059
Peace & Security 10,780 * 10,226
Counter-Terrorism 550 * 2,050
Deny Terrorist Sponsorship, Support and Sanctuary 0 * 1,300
Governments’ Capabilities 550 * 750
Combating Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) 200 * 500
Counter WMD Proliferation and Combat WMD Terrorism 200 * 500
Stabilization Operations and Security Sector Reform 10,030 * 7,676
Destruction and Security of Conventional Weapons 0 * 1,500
Explosive Remnants of War (ERW) 691 * 0
Defense, Military, and Border Restructuring, Reform and Operations 9,339 * 5,676
Law Enforcement Restructuring, Reform and Operations 0 * 500

($ in Thousands) 2006 Actual 2007 Estimate 2008 Request
Governing Justly & Democratically 1,109 * 6,450
Good Governance 912 * 3,200
Legislative Function and Processes 0 * 500
Public Sector Executive Function 0 * 500
Local Government and Decentralization 0 * 2,000
Anti-Corruption Reforms 733 * 0
Program Support (Governance) 179 * 200
Political Competition and Consensus-Building 0 * 1,500
Consensus-Building Processes 0 * 650
Elections and Political Processes 0 * 350
Political Parties 0 * 500
Civil Society 197 * 1,750
Civic Participation 50 * 1,000
Media Freedom and Freedom of Information 0 * 750
Program Support (Civil Society) 147 * 0
Investing in People 5,732 * 6,383
Health 3,287 * 4,383
Maternal and Child Health 3,287 * 2,192
Family Planning and Reproductive Health 0 * 2,191
Education 2,445 * 2,000
Basic Education 2,445 * 2,000
Economic Growth 1,079 * 0
Agriculture 1,079 * 0
Agricultural Sector Productivity 1,079 * 0

Linkages with the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC)
Yemen’s eligibility in the MCC Threshold Program was suspended in 2005, however, the GOY is intent on making the numerous political and economic reforms necessary for its reinstatement.

Statement of Changes
Funding for Governing Justly and Democratically and Investing in People increased from FY 2006 to FY 2008 to emphasize the importance of Yemen’s development needs and provide support for political and economic reforms that are essential to Yemen’s future stability.

http://armiesofliberation.com/archives/ ... for-yemen/

[Pelayo70]

Te mando lo último del Observer. Estos suelen estar bien informados...

Yemen Observer: http://www.yobserver.com

Interior Ministry warns banks of Al Qaeda attacks
Posted in: Front Page
Written By: Abdul-Aziz Oudah
Article Date: Aug 29, 2007 - 1:44:59 AM
Security authorities are taking strict precautions to protect official banks and financial companies in Yemen, in the wake of warnings that Al Qaeda or other terrorist groups could attack them in the next couple of weeks, said Deputy Minister of the Interior Mohammed al-Qawsi.

“The ministry has received information about new terrorist attacks that target financial institutions, and has warned all banks and called for increasing security around the bank,” said al-Qawsi.

He added that the terrorist groups are getting ready to carry out a robbery to get funding for their acts. “We enhanced security forces around banks to stand against this,” said al-Qawsi.

The Yemeni Central Bank received a verbal warning from the Ministry of the Interior, stating that there might be an attack against the bank from al-Qaeda, said a source at the YCB, who preferred to remain anonymous.

“The Interior Ministry informed us to increase our security personnel to be ready for any attacks, but we in the Arab Bank take these precautions all the time, and security forces made sure of our security and were satisfied,” said Nasser Ghazi of the Arab Bank

”We have gotten used to taking the statements and the threats of al-Qaeda seriously. They are known to do whatever they said, in spite of the security cautions the governments took, such as what happened in the USA, Britain, and Spain,” said Mohammed Abu-Khalid, a political analyst.

There are two explanations for why Al Qaeda publishes threats before taking real action to hack into the accounts of the banks, said Abu-Khalid. “The first one is to distract the government from their real goal. It may be the banks are not their real goal. The other explanation is that Al Qaeda wants to make a statement that it comes back to Yemen so powerfully, more than before. Also, it is able to penetrate all the security procedures that the authorities might take.”

The Counter Terrorism Unit still continues its investigation of the perpetrators of the terrorist attacks that took place last Month in Mareb, which killed two Yemenis and eight Spaniards, said sources in Abyan.

There is a campaign to look for the terrorists in the rural villages, using the military helicopters, said security sources.

To further increase security, the Minster of the Interior started enforcing the new law banning weapon-carrying in Sana’a and in the main cities, which was issued last Thursday.

“We have taken 890 pieces of weapons, most of which are Kalashnikovs. Four hundreds were caught in Sana’a,” said al-Qawsi. The detained weapons will be referred to the judiciary to determine their destiny, he said.

Only certain people identified in the law are allowed to take bodyguards with their own hand guns. “But if those bodyguards are caught with guns while they are not during their missions, they will be jailed and their guns will be confiscated,” said al-Qawsi.

“Some 69 percent of the crimes in the cities are due to weapon carrying,” said al-Qawsi, “And the reasons for the killing are stupid, but because people uses guns, murders happen.”

[Esteban]

El propósito de esos ataques a bancos lo veo más como intentos de provocar inestabilidad que para conseguir fondos. A eso se une las advertencias de la embajada USA a sus nacionales.

Source: AP

The U.S. Embassy in Yemen has warned Americans here to reduce their profile because the country is experiencing “previously unseen'’ terrorist actions.

In a message dated Monday to Americans living in Yemen, the embassy said the terrorist threat was not temporary. It urged Americans to avoid large groups of Westerners, vary their travel routes and times to and from work and limit travel within the capital, San’a.

“We are now experiencing terrorist actions previously unseen in Yemen,'’ read the message, which also reminded Americans that there is an “active'’ al-Qaida presence in Yemen and Western interests “may continue to be targeted.'’

The latest warning comes more than a month after a suicide bomber killed seven Spanish tourists and two Yemenis near a temple linked to the ancient Queen of Sheba in the country’s north. An eighth Spaniard died about a week later at a Yemen hospital from injuries she received from the blast.

Yemeni authorities have said the suicide bombing’s mastermind was Ahmed Bassiouni Dewidar, an Egyptian national and alleged al-Qaida operative who was killed in July while resisting arrest.

Al-Qaida continues to have an active presence in Yemen, the ancestral home of Osama bin Laden, despite government efforts to fight the terror network. Al-Qaida was blamed for the 2000 bombing of the USS Cole in Aden that killed 17 American sailors and the attack on a French oil tanker that killed one person two years later.

[Pelayo70]

Esteban, creo que al Presidente Saleh le ha llamado la atención el interés por Yemen en este foro y, pñor ello, nos corresponde con una visita.Mira:

fuente: TERRA - EFE

Presidente yemení visitará España para tratar cooperación antiterrorista

El presidente de Yemen, Ali Abdulá Saleh, visitará España a mediados de noviembre próximo para tratar con las principales autoridades españolas de la cooperación antiterrorista, entre otros asuntos, informaron hoy fuentes oficiales yemeníes.

Saleh, según las mismas fuentes, informará a las autoridades españolas del resultado de la investigación sobre el atentado suicida que el 2 de julio pasado causó la muerte de ocho turistas españoles y dos ciudadanos yemeníes en la ciudad de Mareb, al este de Saná.

Asimismo, precisaron que la visita del mandatario yemení durará dos días y que las conversaciones abordarán la cooperación en otras cuestiones de interés común.

Las autoridades yemeníes acusan a Al Qaeda de estar detrás del ataque de Mareb, perpetrado por un suicida al volante de un coche cargado de explosivos y que fue el peor en la historia de Yemen y el primero de este tipo contra turistas occidentales en este país.

Los organismos de seguridad yemeníes anunciaron el pasado día 8 la muerte de cuatro presuntos miembros de Al Qaeda en un tiroteo en Mareb; los nombres y las fotos de dos de ellos figuran en una lista publicada por Sana de diez personas acusadas de haber planificado y ejecutado el ataque.

En esa lista están también la foto y el nombre del suicida, un joven de 20 años, identificado por las autoridades como Abdu Mohamad Sad Ahmad Reheqa.

Las autoridades yemeníes han reiterado que el atentado no fue dirigido contra los españoles por su nacionalidad.

Las relaciones entre Yemen y España han evolucionado positivamente desde abril del año pasado, especialmente después de que Madrid abriera una Embajada en Saná.

España ayuda a este país árabe del sur de la península arábiga sobre todo en los ámbitos de Agricultura y Pesca.



Terra Actualidad - EFE

[Esteban]

Es una noticia interesante, será un placer asesorar desde lo que hemos escrito a los sesudos periodistas españoles para la tradicional comparecencia conjunta con el pte de gobierno (si la hay, claro...)

[Pelayo70]

Ecos de los autores materiales del atentado, aunque el gobierno yemení lo niega...

Identifican a cuatro supuestos autores del ataque en Yemen a turistas españoles
22.09.07 - EL NORTE

El Servicio de Inteligencia Saudí ha identificado a cuatro nuevos individuos relacionados con Al Qaida por su posible participación en el atentado de Yemen del pasado 2 de julio, en el que murieron 11 personas, entre ellos ocho turistas españoles, según informaron ayer fuentes de la investigación a la Cadena SER.

Las fuerzas de seguridad saudíes detuvieron el pasado 12 de julio a Mohamed Harem, ciudadano de Yemen que llevaba documentación saudí falsa. En los interrogatorios, el detenido ha reconocido formar parte de la red de Al Qaida en Yemen y estar al tanto de los planes del atentado.

Además, ha dado nuevos datos sobre otras tres personas también implicadas, entre ellas, el encargado de proporcionar el explosivo y el responsable de la preparación del coche. Según su testimonio, el objetivo inicial de la célula eran las instalaciones petrolíferas, pero decidieron ir a por turistas occidentales tras una supuesta profanación del Corán por parte de un ciudadano francés, un incidente del que no se tiene información.

La inteligencia yemení había identificado al terrorista suicida y a otros diez sospechosos de los que cinco ya han muerto.