The head of one of the world's most dangerous terrorist organizations has issued a chilling new call to violence, urging followers to launch a global campaign to "eradicate" Americans and Jews wherever they are found.
In a recently released message, Sa’ad bin Atef al-Awlaki, the leader of Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), framed his followers' struggle as a holy war against what he termed a "dual evil." He blessed recent attacks and issued a direct, worldwide appeal for more violence.
"I call upon every honourable and zealous Muslim... to take the initiative and hasten to eradicate the dual evil - Jews and Americans - wherever they are found," al-Awlaki declared, describing his targets as the "root substance" of global calamity. His statement also included a warning to the Chinese government over its treatment of Uyghur Muslims, threatening to escalate attacks beyond land and sea interests.
AQAP, formed in 2009, is considered by many security analysts to be the most dangerous affiliate of the original Al-Qaeda network. Known for its sophisticated bomb-making capabilities and repeated attempts to carry out international attacks, the group's stated aims are to establish an Islamic caliphate in the Arabian Peninsula and to strike Western and local interests. Its bloody track record includes a lethal 2013 car bombing of a hospital in Yemen's capital, Sanaa, which killed at least 52 people.
The United States government, which has designated al-Awlaki as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist, is offering a reward of up to $10 million for information leading to his capture. His latest edict represents a clear effort to reignite Al-Qaeda's role in the global jihadist movement, directly inciting violence against two of its primary perceived enemies.
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