Islamist media is reporting that the Shiite group in Yemen known as the Houthis has accused the Muslim Brotherhood of cooperating with Al Qaeda. According to a Middle East Monitor report:
March 11, 2015 The Houthi group in Yemen yesterday renewed their accusation that the Muslim Brotherhood is cooperating with Al-Qaeda, the Anadolu Agency reported.
Abdul-Malik Al-Houthi, the head of the group, said in a televised speech that Al-Islah Party, which represents the Brotherhood in Yemen, is involved with Al-Qaeda’s activities on the ground and in its media policy.
He also said that there is a joint coordination between field leaders from the Brotherhood and Al-Qaeda regarding fighting in the country.
In addition, he accused the Brotherhood of undermining the discussions and dialogue aimed at finding a solution to the ongoing impasse in the country. ‘In this regard, Al-Qaeda is carrying out attacks, killing and taking control of Yemeni cities, and the Muslim Brotherhood sustains it through its mass media,’ he said.
Anadolu was unable to obtain a comment from the Brotherhood.
Cooperation between Al-Qaeda and the Muslim Brotherhood in Yemen does have historical precedent. The Al-Islah Party in Yemen is identified by an Israeli research center as the Muslim Brotherhood in Yemen and one of Al-Islah’s most important leaders leaders is Abdul Majeed al-Zindani. The U.S. Treasury Department designated Zindani as a terrorist in 2004, describing him as a “loyalist” and “spiritual advisor” to Osama Bin Laden.
GMBDW reporting on the conflict in Yemen has included:
- The GMBDW reported in September 2014 in the takeover of the Yemeni capital Sana by Houthi militants
- In November 2014, we discussed an article that looked at the losses suffered by the Muslim Brotherhood as a result of the Houthi offensive
- In December 2014, we reported that the Muslim Brotherhood in Yemen had signed an agreement with Shiite Houthi militants to end the conflict between them.
For a report on the Houthis, go here.
