May 21, 2012 saw one of the most brutal suicide bombings ever in Yemen. At least 90 soldiers were killed and 222 injured during a parade rehearsal. The attack happened around 10 AM in the al-Sabeen square in Sanaa when the troops were listening to the national anthem, just minutes before the defense minister was due to give a speech. The suicide bomber is believed to be either a soldier or a man dressed in a soldier’s uniform.

The parade rehearsal was to commemorate Yemen’s National Day, the day in 1990 when the north and south of Yemen were united.

Most of the soldiers killed were from the Central Security Organization, a paramilitary force led by Yahya Saleh, nephew of former President Ali Abdullah Saleh. Yahya Saleh was dismissed only hours after the attack. One of the security officers was fired by presidential decree as well.

The al-Qaeda group in Yemen, al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), claimed responsibility for the attack. The AQAP declared that the attack was revenge for the US war on followers from southern Yemen. In the same announcement AQAP warned that there would be more attacks stating, “We will take revenge, God willing, and the flames of war will reach you everywhere, and what happened is but the start of a jihad project in defense of honor and sanctities.”

The AQAP is considered a key threat to US security by the US government. This is the same group that tried to bomb an airplane flying over Detroit and plotted to send mail bombs to Chicago via cargo planes in 2010. Most recently, the AQAP is also responsible for the failed attempt to get a suicide bomber onto a US bound plane in April 2012. The US has sent twenty-one missile attacks to AQAP territory since January 2012.

No top officials were harmed during the bombing, although they were present; instead, most of the victims were Yemeni soldiers. In the past soldiers have been off-limits for the AQAP because they believed that it would make them unpopular with the Yemeni people. Previously the AQAP has gone so far as to release 75 soldiers that they captured in southern Yemen.

This attack seems to demonstrate that the AQAP has expanded influence since most of its operations have taken place only in Southern Yemen. It is possible that the group has grown because of pressures on the al-Qaeda group in the Federall Administered Tribal Areas in Pakistan now that Pakistan is cooperating more with the US.

The bombing came 10 days after the Yemeni military started airstrikes and ground assaults near the outskirts of Jaar, the most important militant-controlled town in Yemen. Although the US military is advising the Yemeni government it is not getting involved militarily. Obama stated, “I think one of the things that we’ve learned from the Afghanistan experience is for us to stay focused on the counter-terrorism issue, to work with the government, to not overextend ourselves.”

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The African Union (AU) and Somali interim governmental troops took another key town, Afmadow, in the battle against al-Qaeda backed terrorist group al-Shabab on May 31. This victory comes only days after the AU and Somali government managed to take the strategic point of Afgoye the previous Friday. With these two victories Somalia is beginning to turn the tide on the terrorist group living within its borders.

Afmadow is a city in the south of the country, an area deep within the control of al-Shabab. The town has been a prime target for the Kenyan troops who began patrolling the south of Somalia October 2011. According to the African Union commanders, al-Shabab abandoned the city without a fight as the troops approach.

This retreat may be due to al-Shabab’s failure to keep Afgoye earlier. However, the retreat could also be a strategic ploy, since al-Shabab claimed that its previous retreat from Afgoye was intentional. A Somali analyst, Mohammed Abdulahi Hassan, claims that the militants most likely do not have the force to defeat the Kenyan troops.

Although these towns have been taken, al-Shabab still controls a large part of The Republic of Somalia. However, it is losing its hold on essential strongholds and cities, such as Afmadow and Afgoye. Both contain routes that lead to all other regions of the country. Afmadow is only 115km (71 miles) from Kismayo, the home base for al-Shabab and the main port city for many of the Somali pirates.

With the city of Afgoye and the town of Afmadow under the control of the Somali government, the port city is the only remaining stronghold of the group. Hassan claims that if Kismayo falls, al-Shabab will be “in a desperate position both politically and financially.”

However there may have been some exchange of fighting in Kismayo already. Al-Shabab claims that unidentified warships attacked the city and were repelled by the al-Shabab fighters. One al-Shabab official, Sheikh Hassan Yaqub, claimed, “the mujahideen fighters opened fire and repulsed two military ships that approached the coast of Kismayo, they were coming close to the coast when they were attacked.” The war vessels then returned fire and wounded a young boy, but no other casualties occurred.

Currently there is no confirmation on which country sent the war vessels or even if they were attempting to attack the city of Kismayo yet. The Kenyan army has naval patrols close to that area, but would not confirm if its vessels were those in the clash. Nine warships owned by the European Union deployed from France, Germany, Spain, Portugal, Italy and the Netherlands were also in the area. However, these ships are specifically reserved for the anti-piracy mission.

The interim Prime Minister Abdiweli Mohamed Ali told the BBC, “hopefully the next target will be Kismayo and then we will proceed to other towns and cities…surely but slowly we are getting our country back from al-Shabab.”

In addition to the taking of Afmadow, the African Union and Somali military hope to take Kismayo by August 20. This date was set by the many disparate groups within Somalia on May 30 for the official elections to take place and the end of the interim government, yet another – although non-military – way in which the country is progressing.

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The anniversary of 9/11 reminded many of the tragic events that occurred 10 years ago but also reminds the country that terrorism has yet to see its end. The country realized that it still faces threats after the chatter of an “unconfirmed but credible” attack on the 10^th anniversary by Al Qaeda.

Sunday, September 11^th brought thousands of families and public figures together to commemorate those who lost their lives with the opening of the official memorial in New York City. The same weekend the city was put on heightened alert over suspicion that three men were brought into the country sometime in February and were planning an attack using bombs in vehicles.

Despite the rumors, everyone continued with the commemorating and remembrance. The weekend came and went without any attack by terrorists, leaving the country relieved, but the disturbing message from Al Qaeda still resonates. Ayman al-Zawahiri who is the newest leader of Al Qaeda after the assassination of Osama Bin Laden, had a message to America regarding the attacks on September 11^th 2001.

Three weeks before the anniversary a 12-minute video was released of al-Zawahiri, praising the attacks of 9/11 as a “devastating blow” to the United States. Al- Zawahiri continued that the attack, “destroyed the symbol of American economy in New York and the symbol of American military might in the Pentagon.”

The jihadist websites that contained this footage showed videos of Osama Bin Laden as well. Al-Zawahiri also addressed what the attack meant for the group — being an event that “liberated thousands of the members of the Islamic movement’s prisoners, who were imprisoned by direct orders from America.”

Al-Zawahiri pushed for extremist leaders throughout the world to continue targeting the United States. “America today is staggering,” said Zawahiri. “Hunt her down wherever you may encounter her. Hunt her down to cut what is left of her corruption’s tail.” He also wanted to avenge the death of Osama Bin Laden and said the “time to attack is now.”

He continued by referring to the United States as a “murderous country.” Despite these threats by al-Qaeda, U.S counter-terrorism unit believes that the group is far from its strength under Osama Bin Laden. An official said, “Al-Zawahiri has not demonstrated strong leadership skills in the past and he is much less charismatic than bin Laden.”

David Patraeus, the director of the CIA also weighed in on Al- Zawahrir’s influence compared to Bin Laden’s saying, “Bin Laden’s demise might weaken Al Qaeda from within, because bin Laden’s personality and aura were a key for raising money for the world jihad group, and without him, the group’s worldwide network might fall apart under his successor, Ayman al-Zawahiri.” He also included, “Ayman al-Zawahiri is no Osama bin Laden.”

It is reassuring to know that Osama Bin Laden is no longer running Al Qeada, but it is disturbing to see that hate and evil continues on even after his death and terror remains in America’s thoughts.

Anthony Correia / Shutterstock.com

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