Yemeni officials told Okaz that the field commander of Al-Qaeda in Yemen, Qassim Al-Rimi and five other senior Al-Qaeda members killed in an airstrike Friday, while continuing its crackdown on the group by arresting three suspected militants. According to the Yemeni officials, the airstrike targeted two cars carrying eight people in Alajasher border area between Saada and Al-Jouf governorates. “Al-Rimi and his companions including Ammar Al-Waili were attempting to infiltrate into Saudi territories,” the officials said, noting Yemeni authorities received intelligence hours before the air force's strike that killed the six men. However, two of their associates managed to flee and are being pursued, they added. Shabwa Governor Dr. Ali Hussien Al-Ahmadi, while talking to Okaz on phone that Al-Rimi might have been planning to infiltrate into the Kingdom. Yemeni Ambassador to the Kingdom Muhammad Ali Al-Ahwal also backed the idea. Yemeni sources believe those killed were intending to cross the borders through Najran region that is only 30 kilometers away from Yemeni governorate of Al-Jouf. The idea is supported by the fact that the area in question is witnessing a war between the Yemeni army and the insurgents. “Al-Rimi may have wanted to look for a safe place for him in the Kingdom before he could carry out terrorist attacks,” sources said. Mustafa Al-Aani, vice president of the Gulf Research Center, said that as per the analysis of the available information Al-Rimi wanted to enter into the Kingdom to carry out terrorist attacks. He said that the six men probably intended to infiltrate through Arrob'a Al-Khali Desert. Al-Aani said security coordination between Riyadh and Sana'a has put Al-Qaeda in a difficult situation.
