The Long War Journal which monitors terror groups such al-Qaeda activities in the Middle East and beyond, warned in a report published earlier this week that al-Qaeda Yemen had splintered yet again, as to form a faction which sole purpose would be to fight Houthi rebels in Yemen northern region.
The Houthis, a Shiite group organized under the leadership of Abdel-Malek al-Houthi, have in recent months launched a campaign against Yemen Salafis in a bid to regain control over Yemen northern provinces and end what they have perceived as decades of repression and Saudi-promoted sectarianism. Far from being a remote tribal faction, the Houthis have managed over the past two years to expand not only their territories but their political pull by attracting to their cause thousands of disgruntles Yemenis.
Even though the Houthis have been keen to play down their religious orientation, insisting that they political ambitions are in no way link with their desire to overshadow Sunni Islam in Yemen, their expansionist policy has caught al-Qaeda’s attention, enough to prompt an aggressive retaliatory policy.
Having identified a new enemy to its cause, al-Qaeda Yemen announced the formation of Ansar Allah in the central regions. Al-Qaeda slammed the government for allegedly allowing Shiite insurgents to grow in strength, in a bid to counter-act the rise of radical Sunni Islam.
Security experts have warned that sectarian tensions will likely flare up now that al-Qaeda has decided to move its terror campaign to northern Yemen, having identified a new crusade.
Government officials have yet to react to the news.