Al-Qaeda Wipes Out Rival Militant Encampment (HD)

To back it up, let me check in with a intel friend of mine based in Yemen and get back to you because it'd be interesting to confirm.

But, overall, Al-Qaeda considers many of the Yemeni Army post's "Shia" to justify attacking it. Another reason it's called "Shia" is it's actually a meaningless statement and often just part of the Salafi propaganda. Taking another point, given the Houthis have their stuff painted (the "Death to America, Death to Israel, Death the Jews" posters) in Sunni areas, outsiders (even people at the CIA) say these areas get attacked and in the vids these areas are full of soldiers and AQAP call them areas "Shia". They're not.

Additionally, a lot of the Yemeni army is in civilian robe as per the video. I was in Aden in January and it is absolutely packed with undercover military who control the inside and outside of the city. Also outside of it is terrain similar to that video. The far north, is much more mountainous than Al Bayda and Abyan, where this video is likely.

Lastly, AQAP hasn't attacked Saada since 2011. They've been pushed to the east of Saan'a and south towards Aden. They live in the mountains right outside the capital that reach out towards the tribes north of Aden.

Really, the onus of evidence is to prove that this place is "Houthi". Where are the Houthi slogans? Where are the Houthi banners? I really recommend to not believe a document because it said "Shia" or "Sunni". When you live in a place like Yemen you'll soon realize what matters is tribe, not sect. Some tribes even kneel 4 times and call themselves Sunni (rather than 3). They just do it and figure they are Sunni.

Anyway. what the hell do I know?
 
Right, again let me check in with my contact to resolve this. It'd be interesting to find out.

The documents on the ground at the end of the video are Shia, (Shia cleric Nasrallah) unless they are recovered documents from dead soldiers that whom ever was in that compound were "maybe" responsible for...
 
So we have this, but the video on
upload_2014-6-16_18-24-50.pngupload_2014-6-16_18-24-50.png

upload_2014-6-16_18-32-44.png

Here's a beret of a typical yemeni soldier, the same guy who has this on his wallet.

Here's a USAID plaque I took a pic of with a Houthi slogan on it... but it's a "Sunni village" allied to the military. 20140119_120326.jpg

Again, a houthi symbol in a Sunni village
10679-198e47073dbc568a3bc5d71a4016b026.jpg


What's the point? Well if you are getting into it, there's no place in the world that having a picture of a Houthi symbol and a pic of a Shia cleric means you're a Houthi, rival, milita.

I mean on
Embedded media from this media site is no longer available
the tag says it's in Hadramut... but come on... there are no Houthis in Hadramut.

Just don't believe the stuff on face value -- especially when it comes to Yemen. There's as much evidence that they're soldiers (if not more). What the hell would Houthis be doing in the South? AQAP is in the south though and so is the Yemeni army. Again, look back at what I wrote on AQAP saying anyone who they shoot is a "Shia". It's BS, remember who the audience for this video, don't believe the propaganda on face value (especially given it is a AQAP propaganda video), that is edited and could have this stuff planted on the dead guy's body anyway.
 

Attachments

  • 20140119_115810.jpg
    20140119_115810.jpg
    136.9 KB · Views: 1
Based on the military truck, uniforms and equipment inside the compound, I'm inclined to think it was a small military or militia unit that was attacked.

As for if they are Sunni or Shia or whatever, it really matters little to me. I'm more concerned with that damn assault team and their overall proficiency. I want to know who they are, more specifically who is training and or leading them.
 
Based on the military truck, uniforms and equipment inside the compound, I'm inclined to think it was a small military or militia unit that was attacked.

As for if they are Sunni or Shia or whatever, it really matters little to me. I'm more concerned with that damn assault team and their overall proficiency. I want to know who they are, more specifically who is training and or leading them.

It says in the video and I am inclined to believe them. It's a AQAP.
 
My contact, intel, an advisor to various groups, fluent-Arabic speaker, lived in Yemen for years, very knowledgable about the local landscape too, believes:

1) 1 wallet doesn't mean very much
2) soldiers often wear casual clothing, for obvious reasons from the climate, hygiene, and blending in
3) there's 0% support for the Shia "Houthis" in Hadramout
4) both sides spin tribal conflict, so don't eat what either side tries to feed you without carefully considering those factors
 
Back
Top