Batarfi, who managed to escape from the prison where he spent years, indirectly took an active role in the management of the country despite the civil war in Yemen.
Although AQAP was relatively weakened due to both American unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) attacks and the civil war in Yemen, it was still seen as the ‘most dangerous branch’ of the group that was still active after the death of Osama bin Laden.
HE PUBLISHED HIS VIDEO WRAPPED IN WHITE SHOULD
Al Qaeda released a video of Batarfi wrapped in a white shroud and a black-and-white al Qaeda flag.
While the militants did not provide any details regarding the cause of al-Batarfi’s death, there were no obvious signs of trauma on his face.
El Batarfi is thought to be in his early 40s.
THE NEW LEADER OF THE ORGANIZATION HAS BEEN ANNOUNCED
In the announcement made by the organization, it was announced that Saad bin Atif al-Awlaki will take over the leadership.
It is known that al-Awlaki, for whom Washington has placed a $6 million bounty on his head, “openly called for an attack against the United States and its allies.”
Al Qaeda’s Yemen branch also claimed responsibility for the deadly attack targeting the French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo in Paris in 2015.
According to UN estimates, the total strength of the organization consists of three to four thousand active fighters and passive members.
(EuroNews)
