Al-Qaeda looks to recruit Islah Party members

ABYAN, May 03 (YPA) – Al-Qaeda terrorist organization in Yemen on Wednesday began a large-scale recruitment process among members of the Islah Party, the Yemeni branch of Muslim Brotherhood.

This was reported by Yemen News Porta, based on the testimonies of tribal sources.

According to tribal sources in Abyan, the group decided to form committees and send them to its strongholds in Marib, Shabwa, Hadramout and Taiz to receive those wishing to join it.

The move came a day after the appearance of its leader, who is affiliated with the ” Muslim Brotherhood” wing and close to Saudi Arabia, Khaled Batarfi.

He vowed to continue fighting against what he described as “Houthis” even without the support of the Saudi-led coalition.

He also flirted with the Brotherhood, who are resentful of policies of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, by attacking the latter and criticizing their withdrawal and agreement with Sana’a.

It was unclear whether Batarfi’s decision to open recruitment to Muslim Brotherhood fighters was an attempt to counter the growing influence of his rival for the leadership of the UAE-backed group, Saad al-Awlaki, or within the coalition’s post-deal arrangements with Sana’a and the group’s attempt, which has participated for years in the ranks of the coalition, to obtain new gains.

E.M