AQAP Claims IED Attack in Abyan as Part of Expanded Campaign Against UAE-Backed Forces in Yemen
Source: Yemen Monitor
Executive Summary
Al-Qa‘ida in the Arabian Peninsula has claimed responsibility for the November 14 IED attack that killed two Security Belt commanders in Abyan’s Al-Wadi’ah district, framing the operation as part of a broader effort to escalate fighting against UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council forces. The incident fits into AQAP’s renewed regional campaign, which now includes direct threats against the UAE tied to conflicts in Yemen, Sudan, and Gaza.
Analysis
AQAP’s claim highlights the group’s intent to intensify operations against UAE-aligned security units in southern Yemen, linking localized attacks to its wider ideological push against Abu Dhabi. The group’s messaging seeks to exploit overlapping regional grievances to unify supporters and reassert relevance after years of territorial and leadership losses.
AQAP said the attack targeted “Security Belt leaders” Lotfi Mohsen Hashem and Abdullah Maqbil Al-Qoumi, portraying it as part of a plan to “undermine the influence” of UAE-backed forces in Yemen and halt their activities in the southeast (Telegram channel).
Local reporting confirmed that two Security Belt soldiers were killed and others wounded when an IED detonated on a secondary road in Al-Wadi’ah as a patrol passed, consistent with prior AQAP operations in Abyan (Yemen Monitor).
The district has seen recurring bombings against STC checkpoints and patrols, and militants “believed to be affiliated with Al-Qa‘ida” have increased activity across the province in recent months, including a major complex attack in Al-Mahfad last month (Yemen Monitor).
The operation comes days after AQAP issued a regional communiqué calling for worldwide attacks on UAE interests over Abu Dhabi’s support to Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces, linking Emirates policy to a broader “Zionist” project and urging retaliation across multiple theaters (Semper Incolumem).
AQAP’s tightening narrative connects its Yemen insurgency to conflicts stretching from Sudan to Gaza, attempting to reframe local battles as part of a single anti-UAE and anti-Israel struggle. The group’s renewed threats against the UAE, combined with its recent uptick in sophisticated attacks in Abyan, suggest an effort to rebuild operational standing and inspire external supporters. Security Belt forces remain key UAE partners in counterterrorism and southern stabilization efforts, making them priority targets for AQAP. A sustained campaign could challenge local security gains and further destabilize contested areas of Abyan and neighboring Shabwa.
Sources
Telegram
