1 day ago
Last Updated:June 10, 2025, 23:22 IST
Donald Trump, Elon Musk and JD Vance named in chilling AQAP video urging lone-wolf attacks over Israel support.
Al-Qaida chief calls on US Muslims to assassinate Donald Trump, Elon Musk and JD Vance in revenge for Gaza war. (IMAGE: X)
The head of al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) has called for the assassination of US President Donald Trump and his top advisers in a propaganda video, citing their pro-Israel stance as justification.
Sa’ad bin Atef al-Awlaki, who became AQAP’s leader in March 2024, issued the call in a 34-minute video titled “Inciting the Believers" released on Sunday, according to US intelligence sources. Al-Awlaki urged Muslims in the US to “take revenge" for the war in Gaza and claimed there were “no red lines" in striking American targets.
“Do not consult anyone about killing infidel Americans," al-Awlaki said, before naming Trump, Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth as targets.
Tech billionaire Elon Musk was also named, along with unnamed individuals in finance and administration.
“Go after them and their families and all those who have any ties or are close to the politicians of the White House," he said. “There are no red lines after all that has been happening to our people in Gaza."
The terror leader, who has a $6 million bounty on his head, praised recent antisemitic terror attacks and those behind previous assassination attempts on Trump. He also called for violence against Jews, saying: “Do not leave a single safe place for Jews – just as they have not left any homes, shelters, or respite for the Palestinians."
Al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) is a Yemen-based Islamist militant group that emerged in 2009 following a merger between al-Qaida’s Saudi and Yemeni branches. While it shares the core ideology of global jihad with the main al-Qaida network founded by Osama bin Laden, AQAP is considered one of its most active and dangerous affiliates. The group focuses both on regional operations within the Arabian Peninsula and on international terror plots, including attempts to target the US and Europe. AQAP gained notoriety for the 2009 “underwear bomber" plot and the 2015 attack on Charlie Hebdo in Paris. Unlike al-Qaida’s central leadership, which has often focused on symbolic strikes, AQAP is known for its operational autonomy, local tribal ties in Yemen, and focus on exploiting regional instability to expand its influence.
The US State Department continues to designate AQAP as a foreign terrorist organisation. The group has operated out of Yemen for years and has repeatedly threatened the US and its allies. Intelligence officials are now assessing the credibility and reach of the latest threats.
Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a senior subeditor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over five years of experience during which he has covered sev...Read More
Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a senior subeditor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over five years of experience during which he has covered sev...
Read More
Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)
First Published:News world Al Qaeda Leader Issues Kill Threat To Trump In Disturbing Video; Musk, Vance Among Targets
