The Iran-Al Qaeda Connection
Sunday, January 3rd, 2010If you are under the impression Al Qaeda in Yemen acts alone–think again. Al Qaeda and Iranian forces have conspired in Yemen to spawn terror eventually exported to the United States.
Not surprising–the Al Qaeda-Iran connection is one of the most under reported news stories of 2009 heading into 2010.
Iran-Al Qaeda Connection: Til' Death Do Us Part
Arab and Egyptian intelligence sources indicate Yemen first got hot and heavy when Iran, Hezbollah, and Yemen-based Shia Muslim militants held a secret meeting. It was a strategy session with the end goal of escalating the Saudi-Yemen conflict.
Enter Al Qaeda in a sinister plan that would make Hitler and Mussolini envious. (1)
In November of 2008, security officials intercepted correspondence by Bin Laden’s son Saad, literally thanking Iran for “monetary and infrastructure assistance” towards the double car bombing of America’s embassy in Yemen taking the lives of 16 people. (2)
The letter was signed by Al Qaeda’s second in command–Ayman al-Zawahiri. Equally important–the Al Qaeda leader lauded Iran for its “vision” in helping Al Qaeda out with establishing new terror bases across Yemen. Incidentally, right after US and Allied forces cleaned house in Iraq and Saudi Arabia, forcing Al Qaeda to abandon forces there.
Yemen war vs. Shiite rebels trained by Hezbollah & the Iran Revolutionary Guard. Yemen's rebels armed with Iran's trademark Katushya rockets.
And Iran’s fingerprints are all over Yemen. Anti-tank missiles have been seized from an Iranian ship headed for Yemen’s shiite rebels. (3) Curiously, 5 Iranian crewman aboard the ship were weapons experts. (4)
In the meantime, Yemen’s President has outright accused Iran of a proxy war stating shiite militants “have been trained in a manner followed by [Iran's] Hezbollah in south Lebanon.” (5)
Sound frighteningly familiar? Perhaps a bit like Iran’s terrorist meddling in US affairs in Iraq and Afghanistan? (See post: “Iran’s Proxy War Against the United States”)
Al Qaeda’s demise may mean removing Iran from the picture. As more evidence of Iran’s connection to Al Qaeda in Yemen continues to unfold, we need tougher sanctions–if not military intervention.
In matters of global terrorism–All roads lead to Iran.
Sources:
(1) Mahmoud, Khaled, “Intelligence services detected a secret meeting in Yemen between senior official in the Iranian Revolutionary Guard and leaders of the Houthis and Hezbollah,” Asharq Al-Awsat, Dec. 13, 2009, http://aawsat.com/details.asp?section=4&article=548357&issueno=11338
(2) Coughlin, Con, “Iran receives al Qaeda praise for role in terrorist attacks,” The Telegraph, Nov. 23, 2008, http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/iran/3506544/Iran-receives-al-Qaeda-praise-for-role-in-terrorist-attacks.html
(3)Ajbaili, Mustapha, “Yemen seizes weapons vessel with Iranian crew,” Al-Arabiya, Oct. 26, 2009, http://www.alarabiya.net/articles/2009/10/26/89328.html
[4] Ajbaili, Mustapha, “Yemen seizes weapons vessel with Iranian crew,” Al-Arabiya, Oct. 26, 2009, http://www.alarabiya.net/articles/2009/10/26/89328.html
(5) [31] “Yemen’s Saleh slams Iran for funding Shiite rebels,” Agence France-Presse, Oct. 19, 2009, http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5jcX1LBTjEewUyS0LcQk60enVG5MA