By Emmanuel Kwada
Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) leader, Sa’ad bin Atef al-Awlaki, has released a disturbing 34-minute video titled “Inciting the Believers,” urging his followers to assassinate top US officials, including President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, and Tesla CEO Elon Musk.
Go after them, their families, and anyone connected to the White House
Al-Awlaki cited America’s support for Israel as justification for the attacks, particularly referencing the conflict in Gaza.
In the video, al-Awlaki explicitly calls on Muslims in the US to exact revenge, stating, “Go after them, their families, and anyone connected to the White House.” He also declared, “There are no red lines,” emphasizing the urgency and severity of his demands. Additionally, al-Awlaki made threatening remarks against Jews, urging followers to “take revenge” and “do not leave a single safe place for Jews”.
This is not the first time AQAP has been linked to violent activities. The group has a history of major attacks, including the 2009 attempted bombing of a Northwest Airlines flight and the 2015 Charlie Hebdo assault in Paris. Al-Awlaki, who assumed leadership of AQAP in March 2024, currently has a $6 million bounty on his head.
The video’s release has raised concerns about potential threats to US officials and the ongoing tensions between the US and extremist groups. Al-Awlaki’s call for violence reflects the deep-seated animosity toward Western culture and policies, particularly regarding Israel.
