Written by Jonathan Carter.
A recent video from the leader of Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), Sa’ad Bin Atef Al-Awlaki, has sparked alarm by urging Muslims in the United States to engage in violent acts and target prominent American figures. This provocative message, disseminated through online channels, calls for the assassination of key political and business leaders, citing their support for Israel in the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict. The gravity of these threats, combined with Al-Awlaki’s established reputation as a dangerous figure, underscores the persistent challenge of countering extremist ideologies in a volatile global landscape.
Details of the Incendiary Video Message
In a 34-minute video titled “Inciting the Believers,” released on June 8, 2025, Sa’ad Bin Atef Al-Awlaki explicitly calls for jihad and the assassination of high-profile U.S. officials. The targets named include President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, and tech mogul Elon Musk. The video, circulated by AQAP supporters, features images of these individuals alongside logos of Musk’s companies, such as Tesla, emphasizing their alleged roles in supporting Israel’s actions in Gaza.
Al-Awlaki’s rhetoric is uncompromising, declaring that “there are no red lines” in response to the devastation in Gaza, where over 54,000 Palestinians have reportedly been killed since the conflict escalated. He urges Muslims, particularly the estimated 4.5 million living in the U.S., to act independently as “lone-wolf” operatives, bypassing consultation and targeting not only the named individuals but also their families and associates. This call to violence extends beyond the U.S., with Al-Awlaki also advocating for the assassination of leaders in Egypt, Jordan, and Gulf Arab states, whom he accuses of complicity in the Gaza crisis.
Context of Al-Awlaki’s Leadership and AQAP’s Operations
Sa’ad Bin Atef Al-Awlaki assumed leadership of AQAP in March 2024, following the death of his predecessor, Khalid al-Batarfi. With a $6 million U.S. bounty on his head, Al-Awlaki is a high-priority target for American authorities, recognized for his repeated calls for attacks against the U.S. and its allies. AQAP, formed in 2009 through a merger of Al-Qaeda’s Saudi and Yemeni branches, has a history of high-profile attacks, including the 2009 “underwear bomber” plot and the 2015 Charlie Hebdo massacre in Paris. Despite being weakened by internal divisions and U.S. drone strikes, AQAP remains a potent threat, with an estimated 3,000 to 4,000 fighters and supporters, according to United Nations reports.
The group sustains itself through illicit activities such as bank robberies, weapons smuggling, counterfeiting, and ransom operations. Al-Awlaki’s video is seen as an attempt to reassert AQAP’s relevance amid the rising influence of Yemen’s Houthi rebels, who have garnered attention for their attacks on Israel and Red Sea shipping. By focusing on the Gaza conflict, Al-Awlaki aims to position AQAP as a leading voice in the global jihadist movement, challenging the Houthis’ dominance in the region’s resistance narrative.
Broader Implications of the Threats
Al-Awlaki’s video is not merely a call to arms but a calculated move to exploit the Israel-Hamas war as a rallying cry for global jihad. The inclusion of figures like Elon Musk, whose companies are not directly tied to U.S. foreign policy, signals a broadening of targets to include influential private-sector actors perceived as aligned with American interests. The video also references recent violent acts, such as the July 2024 attempted assassination of Trump and the May 2025 attack on Israeli embassy staff in Washington, D.C., to inspire similar actions. These references underscore the ongoing risk of lone-wolf attacks, which are difficult to predict and prevent due to their decentralized nature.
The threats come at a time of heightened U.S. engagement in the Middle East, with the U.S. Navy describing its operations against Houthi forces as the most intense since World War II. The Trump administration’s recent strikes on Houthi targets, coupled with its firm support for Israel, have fueled anti-American sentiment, providing fertile ground for extremist propaganda. Al-Awlaki’s call for Muslim hackers to target the American and Gulf economies further illustrates the evolving nature of jihadist tactics, blending physical violence with cyber warfare to maximize disruption.
The video’s dissemination on platforms like Islamichistory.tv and its amplification on social media highlight the challenges of curbing extremist content online. Despite efforts by tech companies to remove such material, the rapid spread of Al-Awlaki’s message underscores the need for more effective strategies to counter digital propaganda. For American Muslims, the video places an unfair burden, as it seeks to exploit their faith to incite violence, potentially fueling Islamophobia and complicating community relations.
Our Take
The inflammatory rhetoric of Sa’ad Bin Atef Al-Awlaki represents a dangerous escalation in AQAP’s efforts to provoke violence and destabilize the United States. While AQAP’s operational capacity may be diminished, the potential for lone-wolf attacks inspired by such propaganda remains a significant concern. The targeting of both political leaders and private citizens like Elon Musk reflects a troubling expansion of jihadist objectives, aiming to sow fear across all sectors of society. In my view, a robust response must combine enhanced security measures, international cooperation to disrupt AQAP’s networks, and proactive efforts to counter extremist narratives online. Equally important is the need to support American Muslim communities in rejecting such calls to violence, ensuring that faith is not weaponized to divide or destroy. The stakes are high, and complacency is not an option in the face of such explicit threats.
