Sana’a/Dubai: Yemen’s Al Qaida branch has denounced Daesh for declaring a caliphate on territory it seized in Syria and Iraq and its plans to further expand its area of control.
The Al Qaida Yemeni offshoot’s purported spiritual guide, Shaikh Harith Al Nadhari, says such expansionist intentions are “driving a wedge” among Islamist militant groups. He was referring to Daesh leader Abu Bakr Al Baghdadi’s recent call to followers to “explode volcanos of jihad everywhere.”
Al Nadhari says Daesh should have sought “consultation” with other militant groups. His message was posted Friday on one of its official Twitter pages.
Meanwhile, the group’s military chief in Yemen has vowed to launch fierce attacks against Al Houthi militiamen sweeping across the country, in an audio message posted on Friday on militant websites.
“To the Al Houthis we say: brace yourselves for horrors that will make the hair of children turn white,” said Qasim Al Rimi, the military chief of Al Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula.
AQAP, which is considered by Washington as the most dangerous arm of the organisation, said several attacks targeting Al Houthis and claimed by the group were only a “warm-up”.
“Today you are our target... and don’t even think that your crimes will go unpunished,” added Al Rimi.
Al Houthi rebels overran the capital in September and then began taking territory east and south towards areas where the Al Qaida militants are active.
AQAP has already threatened an “all-out war” against Al Houthis and claimed several deadly attacks on them, including one in October in Sana’a that killed 50 people.
Earlier this month, AQAP leader Nasser Al Wuhayshi accused the Al Houthis of collaborating with the United States and Iran to destroy Sunnis.
