New al-Qaeda Leader Calls for Attack on the United States

The newest leader of al-Qaeda’s Yemen branch has called for a string of attacks on the United States in his first public speech as the newest military commander of a Yemen based al-Qaeda organization.

Abu Huraira al-Sana’ani (AKA Qassim al-Rimi) became the military commander in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) a month after al-Qaeda’s second in command, Nasser al-Wuhayshi, was killed in a United States drone strike in Yemen.

AQAP has recently been distinguished by the United States as being one of al-Qaeda’s most dangerous affiliates, and the death of Wuhayshi was seen as a major detriment to the terrorist organization as a whole.

Nasser al-Wuhayshi was known as “al-Qaeda’s crown prince,” and prior to his death made it very clear that it was his goal to land successful attacks on the United States. According to US officials, he has also been credited for establishing one of the most active al-Qaeda branches, and his death was viewed as a major loss for the terrorist organization.

In his first public appearance in the wake of Wuhayshi’s death, new military commander in the Arabian Peninsula, Qassim al-Rimi not only called for the United States to be attacked but also eulogized his predecessor and pledged his allegiance to the current leader of al-Qaeda, Ayman al-Zawahiri.

“All of you must direct and gather your arrows and swords against it,” SITE quoted Rimi as telling Muslims in general.

“God has helped you against this enemy, for not only did you reach its home, but with praise to God and His grace, you have reached the depths of its heart,” he added.

The new leader, Qassim al-Rimi, was added to the United States’ list of “most wanted” terrorists in 2010 and currently has a $5 million dollar bounty.

The U.S. State Department has stated that Qassim al-Rimi has “played a key role in reviving the regional node of al-Qaeda.”