‘Alive and kicking’: Terrorism expert tells ‘Post’ al-Qaeda still holds sway in Arab Peninsula
Yoram Schweitzer, an expert on international terrorism, said that the attempted flydubai hijacking was likely inspired by the September 11 attacks and by Osama Bin Laden.
Al-Qaeda and its affiliates continue to be active in the Sahara and Arabian Peninsula, according to terrorism expert Yoram Schweitzer. The group remains influential, inspiring and supporting affiliated terror groups through media and social media. Schweitzer noted that the Somali al-Shabaab movement is currently the strongest branch of al-Qaeda, having expanded its territory and providing financial support to other affiliated groups.
Schweitzer emphasized that the true threat level posed by al-Qaeda to Israel remains uncertain until the full investigation into the flydubai terrorist, Hamam al-Hammami, is completed. While the incident may not have been a lone-wolf attack, Schweitzer stressed the need for further examination of Hammami's connections, inspirations, and potential guidance from other individuals involved in his planning.
The expert also highlighted the importance of the 2009 merger between al-Qaeda's Yemen and Saudi-based branches into al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), which has enhanced coordination among the groups and extended their reach to Yemen's Houthis. Al-Qaeda affiliates are believed to be training and maintaining their power through connections with the Taliban, operating in regions such as the Sahel, Somalia, and Afghanistan.
Written by urgent.news from Jerusalem Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
