ADEN, Yemen, May 19 (NNN-SABA) – Yemen’s security forces managed to capture one of the most prominent al-Qaeda leaders, during an anti-terrorism operation, launched on Saturday, in the country’s southwestern province of Taiz.
“An elite anti-terrorism security operation managed to capture one of the most dangerous al-Qaeda leaders named Bilal Ali Wafi, who is wanted as a global terrorist,” officer Abdul-Basit Baher said.
He added that the anti-terrorism security troops raided an old house in the western countryside of Taiz province, and succeeded in capturing Wafi, who refused to surrender and attempted to use children and women as human shields.
A security member was injured during the shooting that erupted while attempting to capture Wafi, in his hometown village, he added.
Yemeni security authorities previously accused Wafi of masterminding a series of attacks and assassinations, against the country’s security and government officials.
Wafi was operating as a prominent member of the Yemen-based al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) and participated in a terrorist attack in 2012, against a military parade in the capital Sanaa, killing more than 100 soldiers and injuring nearly 300 others, Yemeni authorities said.
In Oct, 2017, the United States and other Gulf countries designated 11 Yemenis, including Wafi, as terrorists who were wanted by security authorities.
The Yemen-based al-Qaeda branch, AQAP, which mostly operates in eastern and southern provinces, has been responsible for many attacks against security forces in the country.
The provinces of Abyan and Shabwa, former main strongholds of AQAP, have also been the scene of sporadic attacks or heavy clashes between the United Arab Emirates-backed security forces and al-Qaeda militants.
The AQAP, seen by the U.S. as the global terror network’s most dangerous branch, has exploited years of deadly conflicts between Yemen’s government and Houthi rebels to expand its presence, especially in the southern and southeastern provinces.– NNN-SABA
