Al-Qaeda in Yemen leader slams Iran-Saudi Arabia rapprochement

The leader of Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) has slammed Saudi Arabia for its recent reconciliation agreement with Iran.

Khalid Batarfi, the emir of Yemen-based AQAP, said in a video earlier this week that Saudi Arabia was conceding defeat in Yemen by deciding to sign the agreement with Iran to restore ties last month.

Saudi Arabia has for more than seven years led a military coalition that backs Yemeni government forces as they fight the Iran-backed Houthi rebels.

Batarfi claimed his extremist group were the only remaining defenders of Yemen’s Sunni Muslims, the biggest religious group in the country, against the Houthis, a group founded by Yemeni Shia Muslims.

AQAP and rival militants loyal to the Islamic State group have thrived in the chaos of Yemen’s civil war.

The extremist group has carried out operations against both the Houthis and government forces as well as sporadic attacks abroad.

Iran and Saudi Arabia are continuing to act on the reconciliatory deal that restored ties cut seven years ago.

A Saudi delegation will be visiting Iran to take part in a trade expo in Tehran that will happen from 7-10 May, according to state media reports.

Source: newarab