SANA'A: Informed security and military officials in Yemen's capital Sana'a revealed on Sunday they believe al-Qaeda had sneaked armed militants into the heart of the capital as it was planning to attack security leaders and facilities. The sources told Bikyamasr.com that the Islamists are believed to be preparing for a series of attacks on local representatives and security facilities in the province as a response to attacks led by the armed forces against their hideouts in Shabwa and Abyan, southern Yemeni provinces under their control. Moreover, al-Qaeda is believed to be planning to target all American interests in the country as they saw the US military intervention in Yemen an act of war. Yemen's Interior Ministry warned on its website against a potential terrorist attack, which would target vital economic installations in the capital, Sana'a. The Ministry said that at least 300 AQAP elements were deployed in Azzan town in the Shabwa province, amongst whom were Ibrahim Al-Banaa, an Egyptian national, Qassem Al-Raimi, the military leader, and Shaker Hamel, who is described as the most dangerous elements of the Al-Qaeda. The AQAP elements are also believed to be preparing for a series of attacks on local representatives and security facilities in the province. Moreover, the group is said to be planning a further expansion of its Islamic Emirate by seizing Mukallah, the regional capital of Hadramaut, east of Yemen. On Sunday, at least seven Yemeni soldiers were killed, with many injured in critical condition, and others following a surprise attack led by Ansar al-Sharia, an offshoot of al-Qaeda in the region of Hadramaut, only a day after clashes with extremist fighters saw the death of 30 troopers in neighboring Abyan. Despite the heavily militarization of Yemen's southern provinces and daily drones raids, al-Qaeda is spreading throughout the country with speed and accuracy that is gripping Yemenis with fear.
