Al-Qaeda expands control in three coalition-held Yemeni provinces
SANAA, Sept. 26 (YPA) – The al-Qaeda terrorist organization has expanded its presence in three Yemeni provinces under the Saudi-led coalition’s control during recent months of 2025, according to informed sources.
The sources stated that “al-Qaeda’s presence in Hadramout, Shabwa, and Marib provinces has expanded” with the establishment of several new camps. In contrast, the organization’s control did not expand at the same level in the Abyan province.
The sources explained that these terrorist elements have expanded east of Marib city, which is controlled by Islah party factions in the Al-Wadi district. The organization has been using the Al-Samda area as a stronghold for its leadership, with its activities escalating since April of this year.
According to the sources, these elements are capable of using drones, which they obtained from the Islah party, to carry out operations in various areas of Abyan against the UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council (STC) factions. This occurred after a shipment of drones and guidance systems for terrorist elements in Abyan and Shabwa failed to be smuggled through the port of Aden in early August. 
The sources pointed out that the STC factions have been effective in preventing the expansion of these terrorist elements in Abyan, unlike Marib, Shabwa, and Hadramout. The source confirmed that regional and international parties are behind the organization’s expansion, and its leaders are connected to secret elements within the Islah party.
The sources stated that there is a strong link between these elements and coalition countries, including Saudi Arabia, with accusations pointing to “Leadership Council” member Abdullah Al-Alimi, who allegedly receives directives from Al-Qamiri and others.
Furthermore, the expansion of al-Qaeda in Yemen’s eastern provinces is reportedly taking place under the guise of the “Dera Al-Watan” forces, which Saudi Arabia established from extremist Salafi groups in early 2023. These indications confirm that Saudi military leaders are behind the expansion of the ideological dimension of these terrorist groups in Hadramout to curb the expansion of the STC in those areas.
In a television interview on Wednesday, the head of the STC, Aidarous Al-Zubaidi, openly accused the Islah party of being the “Muslim Brotherhood” group and of carrying out terrorist operations in Abyan and Shabwa provinces. Al-Zubaidi called for military operations against these groups.
YPA