Al-Qaida leader says group fought alongside US-backed forces
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}FILE - In this April 23, 2013 file photo, a suspected Yemeni al-Qaida militant, center, holds a banner as he stands behind bars during a court hearing in state security court in Sanaa, Yemen. Qasim al-Rimi, leader of the group known as Al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula, said Sunday, April 30, 2017, that his militants have often fought alongside Yemeni government factions, remarks that could embarrass the U.S.-backed coalition battling the impoverished Arab country's Shiite rebels. Al-Rimi, who is on the U.S. most-wanted list with a $5 million reward for his capture, spoke to AQAP's media arm al-Malahem. (AP Photo/Hani Mohammed, File) (The Associated Press)
The leader of al-Qaida' branch in Yemen says his militants have often fought alongside Yemeni government factions — remarks that could embarrass the U.S.-backed coalition fighting the impoverished Arab country's Shiite rebels.
Qasim al-Rimi leads the group known as Al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula, considered by Washington to be the most dangerous offshoot of the global terror network.
He says al-Qaida militants have on occasion fought alongside Yemeni government factions, including "the Muslim Brotherhood and also our brothers among the sons of tribes" against Yemen's Shiite rebels known as Houthis.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Al-Rimi, who is on the U.S. most-wanted list with a $5 million reward for his capture, spoke to AQAP's media arm al-Malahem on Sunday. He succeeded Nasir al-Wuhayshi, who was killed in a U.S. drone strike nearly two years ago.