A day after the deadly attack by al-Qaeda elements that has left more than 85 soldiers killed, 35 wounded, and 55 others held in captivity, new Yemeni President Abdu Rabu Mansour Hadi reiterated his pledge on Monday to keep up the fight against al-Qaeda, vowing to chase them to every cache, hideout, and hole they might be in.
He said that the terrorist network has taken advantage of the current crisis, and that multi-national militants have infiltrated into the country, especially in the southern province of Abyan, his hometown, to establish their long-awaited Islamic Emirate.
"We are unwaveringly resolved to keep the fight against al-Qaeda and we will chase them to every cache until they are eradicated, no matter what the cost is going to be," said Hadi.
His strong comments came in his meeting with the UK Minister for Legal Affairs Alistair Burt, who is now in an official visit to the country, at the Presidential Palace in the Yemeni capital of Sana'a.
On Sunday, a group of terrorists stormed a military base in the southern province of Abyan, killing dozens, holding others captive, and seizing heavy weapons.
Only hours after he was sworn in two weeks ago, AQAP has carried out a suicide attack at he gate of the Presidential Palace in the southeastern province of Hadramout, leaving at least 28 soldiers dead, and dozens others wounded.
Al-Qaeda has strengthened its foothold in the country, apparently taking an advantage of the political impasse that dragged on for over a year.
Worried about Yemen-based al-Qaeda wing, which is the most active offshoot of the terror network in the world according to the US State Department, they pressed Yemeni conflicting parties into signing the GCC-brokered power transfer deal that saw President Ali Abdullah Saleh out of power in exchange for immunity from prosecution.
AL-Qaeda threat is the biggest challenge for both Hadi, and the Interim Government in the transitional phase.
It's remains to be seen whether Hadi, and the Interim Government will be up to the enormous challenges of this delicate, complex stage.