Ex-Al-Qaeda leader launches ‘Current of Change and Liberation’ in Seiyun
HADTRAMOUT, April 15 (YPA) – Abu Omar Riyad al-Nahdi, a former leader in Al-Qaeda and a prominent associate of the head of Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) in Iraq, has officially launched a new political movement called “Current of Change and Liberation” in the city of Seiyun, Hadhramaut Valley, well-informed sources reported.
The sources confirmed that al-Nahdi, who defected from the terrorist organization in 2018, was previously known by “Rafiq al-Shar’a” due to his close ties with Ahmed al-Shar’a (Abu Mohammed al-Julani), the leader of HTS—a Turkey-backed faction that later declared itself the governing authority in Syria after Bashar al-Assad’s departure from power.
The new movement has reportedly gained significant traction in the valley’s districts, coinciding with humanitarian activities carried out by the Turkish Red Crescent (Hilal al-Ahmar al-Turki) in recent years, facilitated by leaders of Al-Islah Party (Yemen’s Muslim Brotherhood affiliate).
Notably, al-Nahdi previously fought with Al-Qaeda in Iraq before announcing his defection and undergoing political training, raising questions about his true objectives, regional affiliations, and activities under a political cover in Hadhramaut’s oil-rich areas. These regions are controlled by factions of the First Military District, which is loyal to Ali Mohsen al-Ahmar, a leading figure in Al-Islah.
Observers view the announcement of this movement in Seiyun as a clear message from Al-Islah to curb the ambitions of the UAE-backed Southern Translation Council (STC), which has failed since August 2022 to fully control Hadhramaut Valley after declaring “Operation Arrows of the East.”
Saudi-led forces blocked the STC’s military advances after the factions seized Al-Islah’s camps in Shabwa and Abyan.
This comes at a time when Hadhramaut Governorate is witnessing intense political conflicts between the UAE and Saudi Arabia, carried out through local proxies such as the STC, the Hadhramaut Tribes Alliance, and Al-Jami’, both headed by tribal sheikh Amr bin Habrish Al-Ali, who is aligned with Saudi Arabia. His armed forces took control of the oil fields in July of last year and are now moving to encircle the coastal districts controlled by UAE-backed factions, including Al-Rayyan Airport and the Al-Dhaba oil terminal, which have been under Emirati control since 2016.
E.Y.M