Yemen's hidden battle against Al-Qaeda
As Al-Qaeda establishes a stronghold in Yemen, this documentary from Journeyman Pictures looks at Yemen's attempts to fight it off.
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Who is fighting Al-Qaeda in Yemen?
Al-Qaeda in Yemen is now at the top of the world's list of the most dangerous terrorist organisations. All eyes have turned to this little-known Arab country, asking who is fighting the group there.
After escaping Yemen's maximum security prison, the leader of Al-Qaeda in Yemen warns Muslims of a great war between East and West. "Be happy even if bad things are happening," he says. "Your children are the next generation and they have your blood."
A stronghold among the tribes
The economy is heading for collapse, and riots against the authority of President Ali Abdullah Saleh are frequent. In this chaos, Al-Qaeda has built a stronghold in Yemen, especially among local tribes.
"Many people here have no job," one person says in the film. "Young people become convinced to join, believing they are following the religious path."
A new front line
The United States has long demanded that Yemen crack down on Al-Qaeda, and Yemen's new counter-terrorism force is the result. Yet by attacking Al-Qaeda, the authorities risk a war with local tribes, who are growing more sympathetic to the group.
Sending international troops would inflame these tribes even further. So for now, Yemen's own counter-terrorism forces stand at the sharp end of this new front line in America's war on terror.
"We are not fighting Al-Qaeda just to fight Al-Qaeda," one member of the force says. "We are fighting for our lives."
The film was edited by Banyak Films. Its makers are Hugh Macleod and Annasofie Flamand.