Iran-backed Houthis reward an AQAP leader who contributed greatly to recruit many fighters

An AQAP leader appeared, along with a number of leaders of the Iran-backed Houthis, in an honoring ceremony organized for him, attended by the Prime Minister of the militia government.

At the ceremony, the Houthis awarded Al-Qaeda leader Aref Mujali the shield of the "Arab Tribe Medal", in appreciation of "his role in recruiting many fighters from the terrorist organization to fight with the Houthis. Informed sources told Khabar Agency.

This comes as an extension of the exchange service between the Iran-backed Houthis and Al-Qaeda.

Aref Majali hails from Arhab, north of Sanaa, and has a marriage relationship with Fawaz Al-Rubaie, one of the prominent leaders of al-Qaeda in Yemen and the main suspects in the bombing of the (USS Cole). Al-Rubaie was killed in 2006.

In February 2006, the Yemeni Ministry of Interior allocated a financial reward of YR5 million for anyone who provides confirmed information that leads to the arrest of twenty-three fugitives from the Political Security prison in Sana'a, who are members of Al-Qaeda, including the leader Aref Saleh Ali Mujali.

Last April, 2021, a secret security report issued by the National Security Apparatus in the Yemeni Central Organization for Political Security revealed an intimate relationship between the Houthi militia and Al-Qaeda.

The report indicated that the Houthis released 252 terrorist prisoners who were imprisoned in the prisons of the Political Security and National Security agencies in Sana'a and other governorates, including the terrorist Jamal Mohammed Al-Badawi.