Khalid Batarfi
In this article, we will explore the impact of Khalid Batarfi on various aspects of contemporary society. From its influence on popular culture to its relevance in academia, Khalid Batarfi has generated extensive debate and controversy that deserves to be analyzed in detail. Throughout these pages, we will analyze the different perspectives that exist around Khalid Batarfi and how it has shaped the current landscape. Likewise, we will examine its historical role and its projection into the future, in order to understand its true scope and meaning in our daily lives.
Khalid Saeed Batarfi | |
|---|---|
خالد سعيد باطرفي | |
 Batarfi appearing in an AQAP video | |
| Born | Between 1978 and 1980 Riyadh, Saudi Arabia |
| Died | March 2024 (aged 43–46) Yemen |
| Nationality | Saudi Arabian |
| Other names | Abū al-Miqdād al-Kindī, Abū al-Miqdād al-Kanadī |
| Known for | Emir of AQAP |
| Military career | |
| Allegiance |  AQAP (2010–2024) |
| Years of service | 2010–2024 |
| Rank | Supreme commander (Emir) of Abyan (2010–2011) Field commander in Hadramaut (2020–2024) |
| Battles/wars | Yemen Insurgency |
Khalid Saeed Batarfi (Arabic: خالد سعيد باطرفي, romanized: Khālid Saʿīd Bāṭarfī; 1978 to 1980 – March 2024), also known as Abū al-Miqdād al-Kindī (Arabic: أبو المقداد الكِنْدِي), was a Saudi Arabian militant and the emir of Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula. He oversaw the Yemen-based group's media network and led jihadist fighters in their takeover of Yemen's Abyan Governorate in 2011, where he was accorded the position of emir. He also reputedly carried out terrorist attacks in the Abyan and Hadhramaut governorates.
On 17 March 2011, Batarfi was captured by security forces in the Taiz Governorate. For four years, he was imprisoned in Mukalla. He was freed, along with about 300 other inmates, by al Qaeda fighters on 2 April 2015, during the Battle of Mukalla. The Washington Post compared the Mukalla prison break to the escape of 23 fighters, including future AQAP emir Nasir al-Wuhayshi, from a Yemeni prison in 2006, a formative event for the group.
Batarfi attracted media attention when he posed for photographs taken by al Qaeda members in the Hadhramaut governor's palace, which fighters took over.
Batarfi was promoted to leader after the death of Qasim al-Raymi in January 2020. In February 2021, the United Nations claimed that Batarfi was arrested during a security operation in Al Ghaydah in October 2020. However, Batarfi later appeared in a video discussing the 6 January 2021 riot at the U.S. Capitol.
The U.S. Rewards for Justice Program offered up to $5 million in exchange for information leading to Batarfi's apprehension.
AQAP announced Batarfi's death on 10 March 2024 and announced Sa'ad bin Atef al-Awlaki as his successor. It did not give a cause of a death for Batarfi.
References
- ^ a b "Khalid Saeed al-Batarfi". Rewards for Justice. Archived from the original on 26 October 2018.
- ^ "Counter Terrorism Designations". United States Department of the Treasury. 23 January 2018. Archived from the original on 23 January 2018.
- ^ Fighting Back: What Governments Can Do About Terrorism edited by Paul Shemella
- ^ a b "Officials: Al Qaeda fighters free 270 from Yemeni prison". CNN. 2 April 2015. Retrieved 9 April 2015.
- ^ a b c "Three militants, three soldiers killed in Yemen". CNN. 17 March 2011. Retrieved 9 April 2015.
- ^ "Amid Yemen chaos, al Qaeda stages prison break". CBS News. 2 April 2015. Retrieved 9 April 2015.
- ^ a b c Spencer, Richard (4 April 2015). "The al-Qaeda commander at home in a governor's palace". The Telegraph. Retrieved 9 April 2015.
- ^ Bacchi, Umberto (2 April 2015). "Yemen: Al-Qaeda frees 300 in al-Mukalla prison attack". International Business Times. Retrieved 4 April 2015.
- ^ Miller, Greg (5 April 2015). "Al-Qaeda franchise in Yemen exploits chaos to rebuild, officials say". Retrieved 9 April 2015.
- ^ Bacchi, Umberto (4 April 2015). "Yemen: Al-Qaeda operative Khalid Batarfi takes selfies inside Mukalla government". International Business Times. Retrieved 9 April 2015.
- ^ "AQAP confirms death of leader, appoints successor: SITE". Yahoo!. 23 February 2020.
- ^ "Al Qaeda's leader in Yemen under arrest, UN report reveals". CNN. 4 February 2021.
- ^ "AQAP leader cites U.S. Capitol riot as evidence of America's supposed decline | FDD's Long War Journal". www.longwarjournal.org. 10 February 2021.
- ^ "Al Qaeda in Arabian Peninsula announces death of leader, SITE Group says". Retrieved 5 April 2024.
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