Al-Qaida Leader in Yemen Threatens Trump, Musk, Others over Gaza/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Al-Qaida in Yemen leader Saad al-Awlaki issued violent threats against U.S. President Donald Trump, Elon Musk, and others over the Gaza conflict. The video, his first public message since 2024, calls for lone-wolf attacks. Experts say the message signals al-Qaida’s attempt to reclaim influence amid the Israel-Hamas war.
Al-Qaida’s Threats Over Gaza: Quick Looks
- AQAP leader Saad bin Atef al-Awlaki threatened Trump, Musk, and other top U.S. officials in a new video.
- The message also targets leaders in Egypt, Jordan, and Gulf states, urging lone-wolf attacks.
- Al-Awlaki cited Israel’s war in Gaza as justification, calling for “reciprocity” against perceived enemies.
- AQAP, once considered al-Qaida’s most dangerous branch, is believed to be weakened but still active.
- Al-Awlaki has a $6 million U.S. bounty and replaced former leader Khalid al-Batarfi in 2024.
- Video featured images of Tesla and SpaceX logos, connecting Elon Musk directly to the threat.
- Yemen’s Houthis are also active in the conflict, firing missiles at Israel and attacking shipping lanes.
- Analysts say al-Awlaki is trying to rival Houthi popularity, using Gaza as a rallying cry.
Deep Look: Yemen’s Al-Qaida Leader Threatens Trump, Musk Over Gaza War
DUBAI — In a fiery new message released online Saturday, Saad bin Atef al-Awlaki, the leader of al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), issued direct threats against President Donald Trump, billionaire Elon Musk, and several other top U.S. officials, blaming them for America’s support of Israel in the ongoing Gaza conflict.
The half-hour video, distributed via pro-AQAP channels, marks al-Awlaki’s first public communication since taking the reins of the group in 2024. In the footage, the militant leader appeared seated and speaking passionately, as images of Trump, Musk, Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth flashed across the screen—alongside logos of Musk-owned companies like Tesla and SpaceX.
“There are no red lines after what happened and is happening to our people in Gaza,” al-Awlaki declared. “Reciprocity is legitimate.”
AQAP Reemerges Amid Gaza Crisis
AQAP, a Sunni extremist faction that once held large swathes of Yemen and was long considered the most lethal al-Qaida affiliate, appears to be reigniting its global agenda, using the Israel-Hamas war as a springboard for fresh relevance.
Though degraded by U.S. drone strikes, internal power struggles, and rival militant factions, AQAP retains an estimated 3,000 to 4,000 fighters, according to a recent U.N. assessment. The group finances itself through bank robberies, smuggling, ransom operations, and counterfeit currency, UN experts say.
Al-Awlaki’s message is noteworthy for both its targets and its timing—coming just days after Trump’s return from a high-profile Middle East visit, where he reaffirmed support for Israel and ratcheted up pressure on Iran-backed militants.
Who Was Threatened?
- Vice President JD Vance
- Secretary of State Marco Rubio
- Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth
- Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi
- Jordan’s King Abdullah II
- Leaders in Saudi Arabia and the UAE
Al-Awlaki urged “lone wolf” assassins to act in retaliation for U.S. and Arab government actions related to Israel and Gaza.
The $6 Million Bounty and Leadership Change
Al-Awlaki is currently on the U.S. State Department’s Rewards for Justice list, with a $6 million bounty for information leading to his capture. He replaced former AQAP leader Khalid al-Batarfi, whose death the group confirmed last year.
AQAP has historically focused attacks on U.S. and Saudi targets and was responsible for the 2009 “underwear bomber” plot and a 2015 attack on a French satirical magazine.
The U.S. State Department has not yet publicly responded to the latest threats but has reaffirmed support for ongoing counterterrorism operations in Yemen.
Houthis vs. Al-Qaida: Competing Extremist Narratives
Al-Awlaki’s rhetoric mirrors the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels, who have also invoked the Gaza war as justification for launching missiles toward Israel and attacking Red Sea commercial ships.
But analysts say the AQAP leader is also jockeying for relevance, attempting to position himself as a legitimate voice in the so-called resistance against Israel and the West.
“As the Houthis gain popularity as leaders of the ‘Arab and Muslim world’s resistance’ against Israel, al-Awlaki seeks to challenge their dominance,” said Mohammed al-Basha, a Yemen expert at the Basha Report.
The Houthis, primarily Shiite, and AQAP, a hardline Sunni group, have long been enemies, though attacks between them have diminished in recent years.
Why It Matters
Though AQAP’s operational capability may be reduced, experts say the group’s ideological threats remain potent, particularly in volatile regions like the Arabian Peninsula and East Africa.
The threat against Musk—an unusually public figure in tech and politics—could also raise alarms given his high-profile role in U.S. defense and aerospace sectors, including federal contracts via SpaceX and Starlink.
“For a national security and foreign policy community increasingly disengaged from Yemen, this video is a clear reminder: Yemen still matters,” al-Basha emphasized.
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