Al Qaeda in Yemen said Friday the Islamic State group is “driving a wedge” between the world’s jihadi groups.
Sheikh Harith al-Nadhari, who identifies as a “spiritual guide” for the terrorist organization, said that Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi’s attempts to create an Islamic caliphate in the heart of the Middle East is counterproductive.
“They revoked the legitimacy of all the Islamic groups across the Islamic world … and drove a wedge among Mujahedeen ranks by collecting allegiances from within the jihadi groups,” he said on an al Qaeda social media website, The Associated Press reported Friday. “They announced the expansion of their caliphate in a number of countries in which they have no mandate.”
The Islamic State group now controls roughly one-third of Syria and Iraq, AP reported.
Al Qaeda’s branch in Yemen is led by Nasser al-Wahishi. He has pledged allegiance to Osama bin Laden successor Ayman al-Zawahri.
• Douglas Ernst can be reached at dernst@washingtontimes.com.
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