Counterterrorism Research Library Yemen AQAP Senior Commander Sheikh Abu Sufian al-Azdi (a.k.a Saeed al-Shehri): “Together: To Overthrow Al-Saud”
AQAP Senior Commander Sheikh Abu Sufian al-Azdi (a.k.a Saeed al-Shehri): “Together: To Overthrow Al-Saud”
Written by Administrator
On August 10, 2010, an audiotape featuring Al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) senior commander Sheikh Abu Sufian al-Azdi (a.k.a. Saeed al-Shehri) titled “Together: To Overthrow Al-Saud” was released. Al-Azdi claimed that “the Jews and the apostates from the rulers of the Arabian Peninsula are in an alliance that was formed by America, and Iran and their Arab Shiite supporters in the region are in another alliance…And what is expected is for the war to begin by the Jews against Iran, and the reality of the battle will be in the land of the Peninsula and the ash-Sham [Middle East]: the Jews in the ash-Sham and Iran in the Peninsula.” Calling for the overthrow of the Saudi government, al-Azdi requested support from “those who belong to the military air-force, or officials in weapons storages, or officials in the army or the interior, or centers of operation and media rooms.” Specifically, he asked those who work “in the Ministry of Interior and who can bring important information that may benefit the mujahideen in assigning their targets—like houses and roads and the officer of Ministry of Interior officials—then he must send it to us via the military email that belongs to the [al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula] Organization.” And al-Azdi urged “any of you who is a pilot should search of martyrdom above the skies of Palestine, and any of you who work in the navy should point his weapon against the Jews there and receive the honor of martyrdom…”
