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How The Terrorist Organization Started
The AQAP was formed in January 2009 from a merger of Al Qaeda's Yemeni and Saudi branches. The Saudi group had been very suppressed by the Saudi government, forcing it's members to move to Yemen. This photo is showing where the terrorist organization is located. When the AQAP was kicked out of the country they relocated in Yemen as shown in the picture. -
Little Rock recruiting office shooting
On June 1, 2009 Abdulhakim Mujahid Muhamma open fired with an assault rifle on soldiers in front of the United States recruiting office in Little Rock, Arkansas in a jihad attack. He killed Private William Long, and wounded Private Quinton Ezeagwula. After this shooting Abdulhakim Mujahid Muhamm said he was affiliated with the Al Qaeda in the Arabian Penninsula. This is a picture of Little Rock recruiting ofiice. -
Attempted Assassination Of Anti-Terrorism Chief Prince Mohammed Bin Nayef
On August 27, 2009 Abdullah al-Asiri an Al Qaeda suicide bomber was flown from Yemen to Saudi Arabia where he tries to kill kingdom's anti-terrorism chief Prince Mohammed bin Nayef in first such attack on a Saudi royal. Abdullah al-Asiri's suicide bomb exploded killing himself but only injuring the cheif prince. This was the first assassination attempt against the family since 2003. Abdullah al Asiri was part of the AQAP and was sent by Anwar al-Aulaki. -
Fort Hood Shooting
Fort Hood is the most populous U.S. military base in the world. In a shooting on November 5, 2009 a shooter named Nidal Malik Hasan shot and killed 13 people and attempted to kill 32. Nidal was never linked to any terrorist groups but Anwar al-Aulaqi said that he would take the blame for the shootings. Anwar said "He was fighting a war against the U.S. as an Islamic duty". This picture shows Nidal Malik Hasan in 2009 after the shootings occured. -
Formally Designated as A Terrorist Group
On December 14, 2009 Hillary Clinton formally designated the AQAP as a terrorist organization. The CIA said that Yemen's branch of Al Qaeda has surpassed it's parent organization, Osama Binladen's core group, as a threat to the United States. In this photo Hillary Clinton is adressing the United States that the Al Qaeda in the Arabian Penninsula is a terrorist organization and they are a possible threat to the U.S. -
AQAP's second in command
Said Ali al-Shihri was a deaputy leader of the Al Qaeda in the Arabian Penninsula. He was held in Guantanamo Bay detention camps, in Cuba, arriving on January 21, 2002. following his release from the camps and rehabilitaion he traveled to Yemen. On Decmeber 24, 2009 it was reported that he may have been killed in an airstrike in Yemen. It was never confirmed and DNA tests have come out negative for his DNA in the drone strike. This picture shows him giving a speech about the AQAP. -
Christmas Day Bomber
On Christmas day 2009 the AQAP sent Nigerian born Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab who attempted to detonate an explosive on an Airlines flight in route from Amsterdam, to Detroit, Michigan. This was the first attack on the United States from an Al Qaeda affiliate since September 11, 2009. The bomb was hidden inside his underwear. Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab admitted to being an affiliate with the Al Qaeda in the Arabian Penninsula. The picture to the left shows the terrorist bomber after he was charged. -
U.S. Taking Action In Yemen
The United States started to consider the use of Predator drones to fight the AQAP in Yemen. The use of these drones would bennefit the U.S. majorly because they would not have to bring in infantry soldiers. This picture shows a Predator drone flying over Yemen, -
Death Of The AQAP Leader
Anwar al-Aulaqi was the top leader in the AQAP. He was promoted in 2011 to regional commander of the Al Quada in the Arabian Penninsula. Anwar was the main force behind the AQAP's decisions and tactics to perform jihad against the United States. He made the desicions to do the Christmas bombing, Fort Hood shooting, and the Little Rock recruiting office shooting. Anwar al-Aulaqi was later killed in a drone attack in Yemen along with Samir Khan another leader. Both were U.S. citizens. -
Suicide Bombing In Sana'a
On May 21, 2012 there was a suicide bombing during a military parade in the capital of Yemen, Sana'a. This bombing killed 90 people. This was the most recent attack that the AQAP has performed. This photo is in Sabeen square during the time of the bombing.
