After years of setbacks and disarray, Al Qaeda's Yemen branch appears to be attempting a comeback in southern areas – some under the control of militias nominally allied to the government and with links to the Muslim Brotherhood.
Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula claimed responsibility for a spate of recent attacks.
On March 18, eight soldiers and four civilians died in a raid on a checkpoint operated by the Security Belt Forces in Ahwar district of Abyan province.
Three days later, Aqap claimed an attack on a military site controlled by Houthi rebels in the Mukayras district of Bayda province.
On April 6, Aqap claimed responsibility for a rocket attack on a military base in the Balhaf area of Shabwa used by Arab Coalition forces supporting the government.
The attacks indicate a resurgence for Aqap, particularly in Shabwa and Abyan, which, with Hadramawt province, were its former strongholds.
The terrorist group has its roots in Muslim Brotherhood followers in northern Yemen who were sent to Afghanistan to fight the Soviets in the eighties.
Those fighters returned to Yemen after the unification of the north and south in 1990 and formed a local branch of Al Qaeda in the south that attacked American interests, including the bombing of the USS Cole in Aden in October 2000 that killed 17 American sailors.
The group ramped up its activities after Yemenis rose up against president Ali Abdullah Saleh in 2011, when it seized control of Abyan.
It widened its reach after civil war broke out between the Iran-backed Houthi rebels and the government of President Abdrabu Mansur Hadi in late 2014.
The Arab Coalition helped pro-government forces to inflict fatal blows to Al Qaeda havens in southern Yemen, starting with the liberation of the port city of Mukalla in Hadramawt in April 2016 after a year of Aqap occupation.
Operations against Al Qaeda by coalition-trained Elite Forces in Shabwa and Security Belt Forces in Abyan were halted after fighting broke out between pro-government forces and those supporting the separatist Southern Transitional Council in August 2019.
Militias comprising mainly Muslim Brotherhood followers then seized control of these areas in breach of a coalition-sponsored ceasefire.
Members of Aqap have been returning to former strongholds in Shabwa and Abyan since 2019, local leaders and military officials said.
Sheikh Salem Al Othali, a tribal leader from Lawder district in east Abyan, said dozens of Al Qaeda militants returned to Abyan recently from neighbouring Bayda province. They began regrouping and recruiting in their former strongholds of Moudyah and Al Mahfed districts, he said.
"The Security Belt Forces in Abyan and the Elite Forces in Shabwa, working with the tribes, inflicted fatal blows to Al Qaeda and successfully secured 90 per cent of Abyan and Shabwa," Sheikh Al Othali told The National.
"Unfortunately, these forces could not carry on the battle to eliminate Al Qaeda and the other terror groups in Abyan and Shabwa because the two provinces [are] under the control of the pro-Muslim Brotherhood militia, which advanced from Marib and Jawf provinces to support the government forces which clashed with the pro-STC forces in August 2019," he said.
"Since then, Al Qaeda militants returned to former pockets and started launching retaliatory attacks targeting security personnel, especially the Security Belt Forces and tribal leaders who fought them."
Capt Salah Al Yousfi, spokesman for the Security Belt Forces, confirmed the Al Qaeda presence in some eastern areas of Abyan.
"Dozens of Al Qaeda militants came back to Abyan in the last 10 months. They have been regrouping in Wadi Omaran in Moudyah district," Capt Al Yousfi said.
"Some of them were released from prisons in the Houthi-held province of Bayda after a prisoner swap deal between the group and the rebels."
Al Qaeda has been attacking soldiers from the Elite Forces since its return to Shabwa in August 2019, said Ahmed Al Hur, a resident of Ataq, the main city in the province.
"Six soldiers of the Elite Forces were assassinated by Al Qaeda since the Muslim Brotherhood militia took control over the province in August 2019," Mr Al Hur told The National.
The rocket strikes on the coalition base in Balhaf was the first attack officially claimed by Aqap in Shabwa since September 2018, according to Dr Elisabeth Kendall, Yemen expert at the University of Oxford.
"This attack adds to the evidence that Al Qaeda is regrouping in the south. It may be that Al Qaeda elements from Bayda and Marib have moved south to join up with the group's fragments in former strongholds like Shabwa and Abyan," Ms Kendall told The National.
It may also be that splinters of Al Qaeda that were absorbed by more formal militias are again asserting their Al Qaeda identity, she said.
"Al Qaeda has been severely degraded in Yemen since it was ousted from Mukalla precisely five years ago. But experience teaches us that extremism is never truly defeated, only managed. It will be easiest for it to resurge in areas where its roots are deepest, like Abyan, Shabwah and Hadramawt."
Irina Tsukerman, a human rights lawyer and security analyst, attributed Al Qaeda’s resurgence to the presence of the Muslim Brotherhood militia in these provinces.
"Al Qaeda has been making a comeback in Yemen since 2019, particularly in the areas controlled by or with a significant presence of the Muslim Brotherhood group in Yemen and the proliferation of the group affiliates in the pro-Yemen government forces," Ms Tsukerman told The National.
"Muslim Brotherhood political factions, despite occasional differences in methods from Al Qaeda, in reality share the same ideology, long-term vision, and even membership," Ms Tsukerman said.
"The [Coalition] forces were instrumental in working with the US and others in the past in dismantling Al Qaeda strongholds in those areas. However, since these forces mostly withdrew, Al Qaeda are taking advantage of the situation to return."
Scotland v Ireland:
Scotland (15-1): Stuart Hogg; Tommy Seymour, Huw Jones, Sam Johnson, Sean Maitland; Finn Russell, Greig Laidlaw (capt); Josh Strauss, James Ritchie, Ryan Wilson; Jonny Gray, Grant Gilchrist; Simon Berghan, Stuart McInally, Allan Dell
Replacements: Fraser Brown, Jamie Bhatti, D'arcy Rae, Ben Toolis, Rob Harley, Ali Price, Pete Horne, Blair Kinghorn
Coach: Gregor Townsend (SCO)
Ireland (15-1): Rob Kearney; Keith Earls, Chris Farrell, Bundee Aki, Jacob Stockdale; Jonathan Sexton, Conor Murray; Jack Conan, Sean O'Brien, Peter O'Mahony; James Ryan, Quinn Roux; Tadhg Furlong, Rory Best (capt), Cian Healy
Replacements: Sean Cronin, Dave Kilcoyne, Andrew Porter, Ultan Dillane, Josh van der Flier, John Cooney, Joey Carbery, Jordan Larmour
Coach: Joe Schmidt (NZL)
Sleep Well Beast
The National
4AD
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
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The years Ramadan fell in May
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Company%20Profile
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Other key dates
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Finals draw: December 2
-
Finals (including semi-finals and third-placed game): June 5–9, 2019
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Euro 2020 play-off draw: November 22, 2019
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Euro 2020 play-offs: March 26–31, 2020
More on animal trafficking
TO A LAND UNKNOWN
Director: Mahdi Fleifel
Starring: Mahmoud Bakri, Aram Sabbah, Mohammad Alsurafa
Rating: 4.5/5
Our House, Louise Candlish,
Simon & Schuster
Iraq negotiating over Iran sanctions impact
- US sanctions on Iran’s energy industry and exports took effect on Monday, November 5.
- Washington issued formal waivers to eight buyers of Iranian oil, allowing them to continue limited imports. Iraq did not receive a waiver.
- Iraq’s government is cooperating with the US to contain Iranian influence in the country, and increased Iraqi oil production is helping to make up for Iranian crude that sanctions are blocking from markets, US officials say.
- Iraq, the second-biggest producer in the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, pumped last month at a record 4.78 million barrels a day, former Oil Minister Jabbar Al-Luaibi said on Oct. 20. Iraq exported 3.83 million barrels a day last month, according to tanker tracking and data from port agents.
- Iraq has been working to restore production at its northern Kirkuk oil field. Kirkuk could add 200,000 barrels a day of oil to Iraq’s total output, Hook said.
- The country stopped trucking Kirkuk oil to Iran about three weeks ago, in line with U.S. sanctions, according to four people with knowledge of the matter who asked not to be identified because they aren’t allowed to speak to media.
- Oil exports from Iran, OPEC’s third-largest supplier, have slumped since President Donald Trump announced in May that he’d reimpose sanctions. Iran shipped about 1.76 million barrels a day in October out of 3.42 million in total production, data compiled by Bloomberg show.
- Benchmark Brent crude fell 47 cents to $72.70 a barrel in London trading at 7:26 a.m. local time. U.S. West Texas Intermediate was 25 cents lower at $62.85 a barrel in New York. WTI held near the lowest level in seven months as concerns of a tightening market eased after the U.S. granted its waivers to buyers of Iranian crude.
Timeline
2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
In-demand jobs and monthly salaries
- Technology expert in robotics and automation: Dh20,000 to Dh40,000
- Energy engineer: Dh25,000 to Dh30,000
- Production engineer: Dh30,000 to Dh40,000
- Data-driven supply chain management professional: Dh30,000 to Dh50,000
- HR leader: Dh40,000 to Dh60,000
- Engineering leader: Dh30,000 to Dh55,000
- Project manager: Dh55,000 to Dh65,000
- Senior reservoir engineer: Dh40,000 to Dh55,000
- Senior drilling engineer: Dh38,000 to Dh46,000
- Senior process engineer: Dh28,000 to Dh38,000
- Senior maintenance engineer: Dh22,000 to Dh34,000
- Field engineer: Dh6,500 to Dh7,500
- Field supervisor: Dh9,000 to Dh12,000
- Field operator: Dh5,000 to Dh7,000
The specs
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Transmission: ten-speed
Power: 420bhp
Torque: 624Nm
Price: Dh325,125
On sale: Now
BORDERLANDS
Starring: Cate Blanchett, Kevin Hart, Jamie Lee Curtis
Director: Eli Roth
Rating: 0/5
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
MATCH INFO
Manchester United 1 (Greenwood 77')
Everton 1 (Lindelof 36' og)
Company%20profile
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BRIEF SCORES:
Toss: Nepal, chose to field
UAE 153-6: Shaiman (59), Usman (30); Regmi 2-23
Nepal 132-7: Jora 53 not out; Zahoor 2-17
Result: UAE won by 21 runs
Series: UAE lead 1-0
Dhadak
Director: Shashank Khaitan
Starring: Janhvi Kapoor, Ishaan Khattar, Ashutosh Rana
Stars: 3
Tips for newlyweds to better manage finances
All couples are unique and have to create a financial blueprint that is most suitable for their relationship, says Vijay Valecha, chief investment officer at Century Financial. He offers his top five tips for couples to better manage their finances.
Discuss your assets and debts: When married, it’s important to understand each other’s personal financial situation. It’s necessary to know upfront what each party brings to the table, as debts and assets affect spending habits and joint loan qualifications. Discussing all aspects of their finances as a couple prevents anyone from being blindsided later.
Decide on the financial/saving goals: Spouses should independently list their top goals and share their lists with one another to shape a joint plan. Writing down clear goals will help them determine how much to save each month, how much to put aside for short-term goals, and how they will reach their long-term financial goals.
Set a budget: A budget can keep the couple be mindful of their income and expenses. With a monthly budget, couples will know exactly how much they can spend in a category each month, how much they have to work with and what spending areas need to be evaluated.
Decide who manages what: When it comes to handling finances, it’s a good idea to decide who manages what. For example, one person might take on the day-to-day bills, while the other tackles long-term investments and retirement plans.
Money date nights: Talking about money should be a healthy, ongoing conversation and couples should not wait for something to go wrong. They should set time aside every month to talk about future financial decisions and see the progress they’ve made together towards accomplishing their goals.
If you go
The flights
Etihad flies direct from Abu Dhabi to San Francisco from Dh5,760 return including taxes.
The car
Etihad Guest members get a 10 per cent worldwide discount when booking with Hertz, as well as earning miles on their rentals. A week's car hire costs from Dh1,500 including taxes.
The hotels
Along the route, Motel 6 (www.motel6.com) offers good value and comfort, with rooms from $55 (Dh202) per night including taxes. In Portland, the Jupiter Hotel (https://jupiterhotel.com/) has rooms from $165 (Dh606) per night including taxes. The Society Hotel https://thesocietyhotel.com/ has rooms from $130 (Dh478) per night including taxes.
More info
To keep up with constant developments in Portland, visit www.travelportland.com. Good guidebooks include the Lonely Planet guides to Northern California and Washington, Oregon & the Pacific Northwest.
Company Profile
Founder: Omar Onsi
Launched: 2018
Employees: 35
Financing stage: Seed round ($12 million)
Investors: B&Y, Phoenician Funds, M1 Group, Shorooq Partners
MATCH INFO
Confederations Cup Group B
Germany v Chile
Kick-off: Thursday, 10pm (UAE)
Where: Kazan Arena, Kazan
Watch live: Abu Dhabi Sports HD
