Madbouly: Spain key ally in Egypt's regional, global project drive    Global pressure mounts on Israel as Gaza death toll surges, war deepens    Egypt targets 7.7% AI contribution to GDP by 2030: Communications Minister    Irrigation Minister highlights Egypt's water challenges, innovation efforts at DAAD centenary celebration    Egypt discusses strengthening agricultural ties, investment opportunities with Indian delegation    Al-Sisi welcomes Spain's monarch in historic first visit, with Gaza, regional peace in focus    Cairo governor briefs PM on Khan el-Khalili, Rameses Square development    El Gouna Film Festival's 8th edition to coincide with UN's 80th anniversary    Egypt expands medical, humanitarian support for Gaza patients    Egypt condemns Israeli offensive in Gaza City, warns of grave regional consequences    Cairo University, Roche Diagnostics inaugurate automated lab at Qasr El-Ainy    Egypt investigates disappearance of ancient bracelet from Egyptian Museum in Tahrir    Egypt launches international architecture academy with UNESCO, European partners    Egypt signs MoUs with 3 European universities to advance architecture, urban studies    Egypt's Sisi, Qatar's Emir condemn Israeli strikes, call for Gaza ceasefire    Egypt condemns terrorist attack in northwest Pakistan    Egyptian pound ends week lower against US dollar – CBE    Egypt hosts G20 meeting for 1st time outside member states    Egypt to tighten waste rules, cut rice straw fees to curb pollution    Egypt seeks Indian expertise to boost pharmaceutical industry    Egypt prepares unified stance ahead of COP30 in Brazil    Egypt harvests 315,000 cubic metres of rainwater in Sinai as part of flash flood protection measures    Al-Sisi says any party thinking Egypt will neglect water rights is 'completely mistaken'    Egyptian, Ugandan Presidents open business forum to boost trade    Egypt's Sisi, Uganda's Museveni discuss boosting ties    Egypt's Sisi warns against unilateral Nile measures, reaffirms Egypt's water security stance    Greco-Roman rock-cut tombs unearthed in Egypt's Aswan    Egypt reveals heritage e-training portal    Sisi launches new support initiative for families of war, terrorism victims    Egypt expands e-ticketing to 110 heritage sites, adds self-service kiosks at Saqqara    Palm Hills Squash Open debuts with 48 international stars, $250,000 prize pool    On Sport to broadcast Pan Arab Golf Championship for Juniors and Ladies in Egypt    Golf Festival in Cairo to mark Arab Golf Federation's 50th anniversary    Germany among EU's priciest labour markets – official data    Paris Olympic gold '24 medals hit record value    A minute of silence for Egyptian sports    Russia says it's in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban    It's a bit frustrating to draw at home: Real Madrid keeper after Villarreal game    Shoukry reviews with Guterres Egypt's efforts to achieve SDGs, promote human rights    Sudan says countries must cooperate on vaccines    Johnson & Johnson: Second shot boosts antibodies and protection against COVID-19    Egypt to tax bloggers, YouTubers    Egypt's FM asserts importance of stability in Libya, holding elections as scheduled    We mustn't lose touch: Muller after Bayern win in Bundesliga    Egypt records 36 new deaths from Covid-19, highest since mid June    Egypt sells $3 bln US-dollar dominated eurobonds    Gamal Hanafy's ceramic exhibition at Gezira Arts Centre is a must go    Italian Institute Director Davide Scalmani presents activities of the Cairo Institute for ITALIANA.IT platform    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Tightening the noose
Published in Al-Ahram Weekly on 28 - 06 - 2011

The battle against Al-Qaeda continues apace in Yemen, despite the power vacuum, marvels Nasser Arrabyee
The two-month war in south Yemen between Al-Qaeda and government troops intensified over the last few days and entered what can be called a bone-breaking stage.
Al-Qaeda lost senior leaders along with tens of fighters after local tribesmen in Abyan sided with the government troops for the first time. Local people say many airstrikes were implemented by US drones over the last few weeks.
The two governments of Yemen and the US acknowledge there is cooperation and coordination between them to defeat Al-Qaeda which tries to exploit the current unrest in Yemen.
Most of Zinjubar, the capital of Abyan, is now under the control of the government troops and the tribesmen, who closed entrances of the city four days ago, according to local sources.
However, Al-Qaeda is still resisting inside and outside Zinjubar.
At least five soldiers were killed and 25 others injured when a booby-trapped car exploded nearby a reinforcement convoy while on its way to the troops in Zinjubar, according to the Ministry of Defence said Monday.
The reinforcement troops were nearby the air defense camp in Al-Mansora area of Aden on their way to Zinjubar to help the troops of the 25th Mica Brigade who have been fighting for about two months at the eastern outskirts of the city of Zinjubar.
The suicide bomber, an Al-Qaeda operative, who was killed in the blast, was driving a pick- up truck.
The bomber, whose body's parts were scattered, was a Saudi national named Turky Saad Mohamed Kulais Al-Shahrani, alias Al-Betar.
Previously, the Yemeni Ministry of Interior had offered a reward of $50,000 for any information leading to the arrest of him and his friend the Saudi Ahmed Abdel-Aziz Jaser Al-Jassar.
The suicide attack will not deter the armed forces from continuing to cleanse Abyan province from terrorists, the military commanders say.
Brigadier General Mohamed Al-Sawmali, commander of the 25th Mica Brigade, said Monday he and his troops are still determined to cleanse the province of Abyan of terrorists. "We are patient and steadfast, and we'll remain so until we finish off the rest of the terrorists, the cowards who have no nation and no religion," said the commander Al-Sawmali, who is widely described as a hero. Only last week he broke a two-month siege imposed on his camp at the eastern outskirts of Zinjubar. Now his troops are in direct confrontation with Al-Qaeda fighters inside the city.
Tens of Al-Qaeda operatives including middle level leaders were killed and injured in Zinjubar over the last two weeks.
Local tribesmen played an essential role in the last decisive battles. Tribesmen got angry after about 90,000 people were displaced from their houses in Zinjubar because of the fighting.
"It is the first time that Al-Qaeda is in direct confrontation with the tribesmen ,"said Said Obaid, chairman of Al-Jemhi Research Centre, a recently-established think-tank concerned with Al-Qaeda.
Al-Qaeda fighters in Zinjubar, who call themselves Ansar Sharia, supporters of Sharia (Islamic law), come from all over the country, mainly from Shabwah, Mareb, Al-Jawf and Hudhrmout.
Non-Yemenis are also participating in the battles. For instance, the Saudi Walid Asiri, and the Egyptians Salim Heba and Abu Ayman El-Masri, were found among the dead bodies over the last few weeks.
Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsular (AQAP) is also fighting in the city, which is close to the harbour of Aden which Al-Qaeda dreams to control.
"Insar Sharia is part of AQAP in terms of ideology but not all of them are necessarily a part of the organisational system of AQAP," said the expert Obaid.
Aidh Al-Shabwani, the leader of Al-Qaeda in the eastern province of Mareb, was buried in his home village in Abaida on Wednesday after he was killed in Zinjubar.
The death and burial of Al-Shabwani was confirmed by many relatives and friends who attended the funeral and burial.
Musab Mabkhout Al-Sharif was also buried in Mareb earlier this month after he was killed in Zinjubar where he was fighting Al-Qaeda operatives.
Mabkhout Al-Sharif, father of Musab, is the head of the opposition Islamist party, Islah, in Mareb.
Salim Heba and Abu Ayman El-Masri, the Egyptian Al-Qaeda operative, was killed in Zinjubar earlier this month. Al-Masri lived with his wife on a farm under the protection of the prominent Bakil tribal leader in Al-Jawf province Amin Al-Okaimi.
The tribal leader Al-Okaimi is a member of parliament from the opposition Islamist party Islah.


Clic here to read the story from its source.