Doha involved in supporting al-Qaeda: Yemeni Army

CAIRO – 9 August 2017: Terrorist groups affiliated with the terrorist organization al-Qaeda have documents proving that Qatar and a number of Yemeni commercial companies supported elements of extremist groups, special operations forces of the Yemeni army in the Shabwah governorate assured on Tuesday.

In a statement, a Yemeni military source said that the documents prove that Doha, as well as Yemeni commercial companies owned by Yemeni Muslim Brotherhood leaders Ahmed el-Esawi and Ali Mohsen Saleh, were involved in supporting terrorist groups with money and petroleum products. The companies also facilitated the transportation of these terrorist groups to different cities in southern Yemen.

The source added that “The Gulf-Qatar crisis, which began when several countries boycotted diplomatic relations with Qatar over accusations of supporting terrorism, made several al-Qaeda leaders, who were receiving support from Doha, flee or disappear.”

Earlier, the Yemeni army, supported by the Arab coalition forces, had liberated some rural towns in Yemen’s Shabwah governorate from the al-Qaeda terrorist elements.

Qatar’s relations with several Arab states have been strained since May 24 over a leaked statement, attributed to Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad, criticizing Gulf foreign policy with Iran, which he described as “unwise”.

On June 5, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Bahrain cut diplomatic ties with Qatar and imposed economic sanctions, accusing it of funding terrorism – a claim Qatar rejects. They also closed their airspace and seaports to Qatari transportation.

The Arab quartet issued 13 demands to Doha – then shortened to six principles – including closing Al Jazeera television, curbing relations with Iran and shutting down a Turkish military base.