The Al-Qaeda branch in Yemen claimed responsibility for the attack on the French weekly "Charlie Hebdo," which resulted in the deaths of 12 of its staff and security personnel, stating that "this is a clear message to anyone who dares to attack Islamic sanctities." According to a report on Wednesday, January 24, by Agence France-Presse, the "Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula" group released a video online claiming responsibility for the attack on "Charlie Hebdo," stating that it was carried out "on the orders of Ayman al-Zawahiri," the current head of Al-Qaeda. In this video, titled "A Message Regarding the Holy Battle in Paris," it is mentioned that "this operation was carried out to avenge the Messenger of Allah." In the video, Nasser al-Ansi, one of the commanders of the Al-Qaeda group in Yemen, states that "the leadership of Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula chose the target, devised the plan, and financed this operation." He adds, "This operation was formed after Ayman al-Zawahiri, our overall leader, issued the order." Al-Ansi continues by saying that "the heroes [to carry out this operation] were chosen, and they responded to this call." This commander of the Al-Qaeda branch in Yemen further explains the images of the attack on "Charlie Hebdo," stating: "Today, the Mujahideen are avenging their beloved Prophet, sending the clearest message to all those who dare to attack Islamic sanctities." The satirical publication "Charlie Hebdo," which was the scene of the attack by extremists last week, prepared its latest issue for sale with a significantly higher print run than usual and an image of the Prophet Muhammad. Marzieh Afkham, the spokesperson for the Iranian Foreign Ministry, condemned the publication of a new cartoon of the Prophet Muhammad in the French weekly "Charlie Hebdo," calling it "offensive" and stating that "the misuse of freedom of expression in the West is unacceptable." Previously, French President François Hollande emphasized on Tuesday, January 23, during a memorial for three police officers who fell victim to recent attacks by Muslim extremists in Paris, that France would never succumb to terror and fear-mongering.
Al-Qaeda in Yemen: We Carried Out the Attack on Charlie Hebdo on Al-Zawahiri's Orders
Al-Qaeda in Yemen has claimed responsibility for the Charlie Hebdo attack, stating it was ordered by Ayman al-Zawahiri as an act of revenge for perceived insults to Islam. This incident highlights ongoing tensions surrounding freedom of expression and Islamic sanctities, drawing international condemnation and responses from various political leaders.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
AQAP claimed responsibility for the Charlie Hebdo attack, stating it was ordered by Ayman al-Zawahiri as an act of revenge for perceived insults to Islam. The attack resulted in the deaths of 12 individuals associated with the publication.
- The attack was a response to Charlie Hebdo's publication of cartoons depicting the Prophet Muhammad.
- AQAP released a video claiming the attack was part of a broader jihadist campaign against perceived attacks on Islam.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
The Charlie Hebdo attack is part of a broader trend of jihadist violence against perceived insults to Islam, reflecting deep cultural and ideological divides.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
Translated from the original and edited for English readers. View original source →
Translation confidence: 85%