Nasser bin Ali al-Ansi

Nasser bin Ali al-Ansi was a senior leader of al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) and regularly featured in the group’s propaganda videos.Joscelyn, Thomas; Adaki, Oren, “AQAP Official calls on Rival Factions to Unite Against the West,” Long War Journal, October 1, 2014, http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2014/10/aqap_leader_calls_on.php. Al-Ansi took an active role in advertising the kidnapping and eventual murder of American hostage Luke Somers in December 2014.“Yemen’s al-Qaeda threatens American hostage Luke Somers in new video,” Huffington Post, December 14, 2014, http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/12/04/yemen-luke-somers_n_6268302.html. In January 2015, al-Ansi featured in the AQAP video claiming responsibility for the attack on Charlie Hebdo, and praised the perpetrators as “heroes of Islam.”“Al-Qaeda Claims French Attack, Derides Paris Rally,” Sami Aboudi, Reuters, January 14, 2015, http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/01/14/us-france-shooting-aqap-idUSKBN0KN0VO20150114. He was reportedly killed by a U.S. airstrike in April, 2015.Simon Tomlinson, “Senior Al-Qaeda figure who claimed responsibility for the Charlie Hebdo attacks is killed alongside his son in US air strike,” Daily Mail, May 7, 2015, http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3072559/Al-Qaeda-says-prominent-member-killed-US-strike-Yemen.html.

Al-Ansi had long been involved in Islamist activity. In the 1990s he travelled to Bosnia to fight against the Serbian paramilitaries.“Who is AQAP terror group commander al-Ansi?,” Nick Paton Walsh, CNN, January 14, 2015, http://edition.cnn.com/videos/tv/2015/01/14/dnt-paton-walsh-al-ansi-profile.cnn. In 1998 he traveled to Afghanistan to join al-Qaeda,Joscelyn, Thomas; Adaki, Oren, “AQAP Official calls on Rival Factions to Unite Against the West,” Long War Journal, October 1, 2014, http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2014/10/aqap_leader_calls_on.php. and was personally directed by Osama bin Laden to train mujahideen forces in the Philippines.Joscelyn, Thomas; Adaki, Oren, “AQAP Official calls on Rival Factions to Unite Against the West,” Long War Journal, October 1, 2014, http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2014/10/aqap_leader_calls_on.php. Following 9/11, he attempted to return to Afghanistan to fight U.S. troops, but was detained by Yemeni authorities for six months.“Who is AQAP terror group commander al-Ansi?,” Nick Paton Walsh, CNN, January 14, 2015, http://edition.cnn.com/videos/tv/2015/01/14/dnt-paton-walsh-al-ansi-profile.cnn. After he was freed, al-Ansi enrolled in the Iman Unviersity in Yemen where he received a certificate in sharia jurisprudence. According to the Long War Journal, al-Ansi reportedly preached “among the young” and conducted “some special training” during this time.Joscelyn, Thomas; Adaki, Oren, “AQAP Official calls on Rival Factions to Unite Against the West,” Long War Journal, October 1, 2014, http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2014/10/aqap_leader_calls_on.php. Al-Ansi eventually linked up with AQAP, and by 2011 had risen through the ranks to become a senior commander and spokesman.Joscelyn, Thomas; Adaki, Oren, “AQAP Official calls on Rival Factions to Unite Against the West,” Long War Journal, October 1, 2014, http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2014/10/aqap_leader_calls_on.php. He operated out of Yemen.Thomas Joscelyn, “Osama bin Laden’s files: al Qaeda’s deputy general manager in Yemen,” Long War Journal, March 1, 2015, http://www.longwarjournal.org/tags/nasser-bin-ali-al-ansi.

Also Known As

Extremist entity
Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP)
Read Threat Report
Type(s) of Organization:
Insurgent, non-state actor, religious, terrorist, transnational, violent
Ideologies and Affiliations:
Al-Qaeda affiliated group, Islamist, jihadist, Qutbist, Salafist, Sunni, takfiri
Position(s):
Senior Commander, Spokesman

AQAP is the union of al-Qaeda’s affiliated branches in Saudi Arabia and Yemen. AQAP has claimed responsibility for terror attacks and plots worldwide, including the January 2015 Charlie Hebdo attacks in Paris.

  • Rhetoric

Jan. 2015

“Congratulations to you, the Nation of Islam, for this revenge that has soothed our pain. Congratulations to you for these brave men have blown off the dust of disgrace and lit the torch of glory in the darkness of defeat and agony.”“Al-Qaeda in Yemen Claims Attack on Charlie Hebdo,” Maggie Michael, The Daily Star, January 14, 2015, http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/World/2015/Jan-14/284052-al-qaeda-in-yemen-claims-responsibility-for-paris-attack.ashx.

Jan. 2015

“As for the blessed Battle of Paris, we...claim responsibility for this operation as vengeance for the Messenger of God.” “Al-Qaeda Claims French Attack, Derides Paris Rally,” Sami Aboudi, Reuters, January 14, 2015, http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/01/14/us-france-shooting-aqap-idUSKBN0KN0VO20150114.

Jan. 2015

“We have warned you before about the consequences of these deeds that your government collude with under the pretext of freedom of press' or 'freedom of ideas'. Sheikh Usama bin Laden warned you before: 'If there is no check on the freedom of your words, then let your heart be open to the freedom of our actions. Stop your insults on our Prophet and sanctities. Stop spilling our blood. Leave our lands. Quit plundering our resources.”Jessica Best, “Charlie Hebdo Paris attacks: Al-Qaeda chilling video claims responsibility for ‘Blessed Battle of Paris,’” The Mirror, January 14, 2015, http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/charlie-hebdo-paris-attacks-al-qaeda-4976154.

Jan. 2015

“There is no doubt that immigration is better than living under the rule of the disbelievers, but one should take into consideration the matter of affliction. Meaning, is it more afflicting for an individual to wage individual jihad in a Western country in which he resides than immigrating for jihad to fight on one of the front lines?”“Al-Qaeda Calls for Lone Wolf Attacks in Canada,” Stewart Bell, Leader-Post, January 21, 2015, http://www.leaderpost.com/news/Qaida+calls+lone+wolf+attacks+Canada/10746835/story.html.

Jan. 2015

“If he is capable to wage individual jihad in the Western countries that fight Islam, such as America, Britain, France, Canada and others of the countries that represent the head of disbelief in waging war against Islam, and participate in this Crusader campaign - if he is capable of that then that is better and more harmful.”“Al-Qaeda Calls for Lone Wolf Attacks in Canada,” Stewart Bell, Leader-Post, January 21, 2015, http://www.leaderpost.com/news/Qaida+calls+lone+wolf+attacks+Canada/10746835/story.html.

Dec. 2014

Regarding the American hostage Luke Somers: “We give the American government a timeframe of three days from the issuance of this statement to meet our demands about which they are aware; otherwise, the American hostage held by us will meet his inevitable fate.” “U.S. Discloses Failed Attempt to Rescue American in Yemen,” Reuters, December 4, 2014, http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/12/04/us-mideast-crisis-yemen-usa-idUSKCN0JI0Y320141204.

Sep. 30, 2014

“What the Islamic ummah [worldwide community of Muslims] is witnessing today by way of developments in Iraq and Sham is the enabling of Iranian agents running parallel to a fierce war waged on the mujahideen as well as aerial, land, and sea bombardment on our brothers, the mujahideen in the Islamic State and [the Al Nusrah Front] and the other jihadi factions.” (Official AQAP video)Thomas Joscelyn and Oren Adaki, “AQAP official calls on rival factions in Syria to unite against West,” Long War Journal, October 1, 2014, http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2014/10/aqap_leader_calls_on.php.

Sep. 30, 2014

This is the same plan that is being executed in Yemen by enabling Iranian agents and handing over the capital Sana’a to them without any resistance mentioned from the military.” (Official AQAP video)Thomas Joscelyn and Oren Adaki, “AQAP official calls on rival factions in Syria to unite against West,” Long War Journal, October 1, 2014, http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2014/10/aqap_leader_calls_on.php.

Sep. 30, 2014

“As for the Crusader coalition that has shown its teeth in Iraq and Sham, in the face of this plan and plot the Muslims must forget their differences, unite their efforts, and join their ranks against their Crusader enemy.” (Official AQAP video)Thomas Joscelyn and Oren Adaki, “AQAP official calls on rival factions in Syria to unite against West,” Long War Journal, October 1, 2014, http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2014/10/aqap_leader_calls_on.php.

Sep. 30, 2014

“For we have come to know the main enemy, and America has for decades supported the occupying Jews in Palestine. And American drones bomb Iraq, Afghanistan, Somalia, Pakistan, and Yemen. And they have killed mujahideen and their leaders as well as many among the Muslim public, and destroyed houses and terrorized children and women.” (Official AQAP video)Thomas Joscelyn and Oren Adaki, “AQAP official calls on rival factions in Syria to unite against West,” Long War Journal, October 1, 2014, http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2014/10/aqap_leader_calls_on.php.

Sep. 30, 2014

It must be known that America is the head of the snake,” al Ansi says. “She is the one who mobilizes against the mujahideen and their Islamic project … and if the head falls, its tails fall as well.” (Official AQAP video)Thomas Joscelyn and Oren Adaki, “AQAP official calls on rival factions in Syria to unite against West,” Long War Journal, October 1, 2014, http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2014/10/aqap_leader_calls_on.php.

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Daily Dose

Extremists: Their Words. Their Actions.

Fact:

On October 7, 2023, Hamas invaded southern Israel where, in the space of eight hours, hundreds of armed terrorists perpetrated mass crimes of brutality, rape, and torture against men, women and children. In the biggest attack on Jewish life in a single day since the Holocaust, 1,200 were killed, and 251 were taken hostage into Gaza—where 101 remain. One year on, antisemitic incidents have increased by record numbers. 

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