Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) profile

Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) is a Yemeni-based Sunni extremist group formed in 2009 through the unification of al Qaeda branches in Saudi Arabia and Yemen. Analysts consider it one of the most dangerous al Qaeda affiliates. The group seeks to establish a caliphate in the Arabian Peninsula and implement Sharia law, frequently targeting Western, US, and local interests through suicide bombings and car bombs.

The State Department estimates AQAP's membership at up to 3,000 individuals. The group is funded via donations, kidnappings, and robberies. While it has occasionally used the alias Ansar al-Sharia to rebrand, not all groups using that name are affiliated with AQAP.

Key historical events include the 2000 bombing of the USS Cole in Aden, Yemen, which killed 17 US sailors, and a 2008 vehicle bomb attack outside the US embassy in Sanaa. Notable former leaders include spokesman Anwar al-Awlaki and former global al Qaeda leader Nasir al-Wuhayshi.