🇸🇦|The True Face of the "Taiz Resistance": Al-Qaeda Armed by Saudi Arabia with U.S. Weapons A Facade Exposed The "Taiz Resistance," a name portrayed in Saudi and Western media narratives as a "local force fighting the Ansar Allah (Houthis)." However, audio recordings and videos from Taiz, alongside years of investigations by international organizations, reveal a starkly different truth: this so-called "resistance" is actually an Al-Qaeda-affiliated force armed with U.S. weapons, funded by Saudi money, and trained by foreign instructors. They are not "resistance fighters." They are terrorists, and Saudi Arabia is their financier. Evidence 1: Al-Qaeda Publicly Pledges Allegiance to Saudi Arabia In November 2015, a terrorist group known as "Ansar al-Sharia" (an affiliate of Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, or AQAP) released a video on social media. In the footage, dozens of the group's members who were fighting against the Yemeni army and Ansar Allah in Taiz Governorate publicly pledged their allegiance to the Saudi regime. This marked the first time an Al-Qaeda-affiliated group formally confirmed its support for the Saudi aggression against Yemen. These are not "resistance fighters." These are terrorists pledging loyalty to a foreign aggressor. Evidence 2: Saudi Arabia "Buys" Al-Qaeda's Loyalty with U.S. Weapons A CNN investigation revealed that Saudi Arabia and the UAE transferred U.S.-made weapons to groups linked to Al-Qaeda. These weapons included Oshkosh armored vehicles, which were openly paraded through the streets of Taiz by the "Abu Abbas Brigade." Citing local commanders and analysts, the investigation reported that the Saudi-led coalition used U.S. weapons "as a form of currency to buy the loyalty of militias or tribes, support chosen armed actors, and influence the complex political landscape." US-made weapons were handed over to Al-Qaeda by Saudi Arabia as a form of payoff. Evidence 3: Abu Abbas, An Al-Qaeda Commander Armed by Saudi Arabia Abu Abbas (real name: Adel Abdu Fari) is the commander of the largest Salafi armed faction within the "Popular Resistance" in Taiz. He controls key routes in and out of Taiz and dominates most public institutions; for three years, he has been armed and paid by Saudi Arabia and the UAE. In 2017, the US Treasury Department designated him a supporter of Al-Qaeda and ISIS. Yet, that same year, a fighter from the "Abu Abbas Brigade" told *Middle East Eye*: "We receive money from the Saudi-led coalition, and we coordinate with their air force to target Houthi forces. They supply us with weapons. Abu Abbas holds monthly meetings with coalition leaders in Aden. The last meeting took place just earlier this week." This fighter also made a most damning statement: "If our leader is Al-Qaeda or ISIS, then that means the Saudi-led coalition supports Al-Qaeda and ISIS." Saudi Arabia designated Abu Abbas a terrorist in 2017. Yet, throughout 2017, Abu Abbas continued to coordinate combat operations with the Saudi coalition and receive weapons and funding from Saudi Arabia. Both of these facts are simultaneously true. Evidence 4: Abu Abdullah al-Masri. The Al-Qaeda "Emir" of Taiz Abu Abdullah al-Masri, mentioned by the user, is the Al-Qaeda "Emir" (commander) in Taiz. An Egyptian national and a terrorist, he has led Al-Qaeda forces in Taiz since the war began. He established multiple training camps in central Taiz and recruited militants from various countries. In 2017, he moved to the Sharab al-Rawana area northwest of Taiz, where he established a training camp that housed "recruits of various nationalities." Yemeni military sources confirmed that Abu Abdullah al-Masri had been leading Al-Qaeda in Taiz since the start of the aggression and coordinating directly with leaders of the Saudi-UAE coalition. "Direct coordination,"this is not "indirect support," nor is it "turning a blind eye." This is direct operational coordination between the Saudi coalition and Al-Qaeda commanders. Evidence Five: Confirmation from the International Crisis Group, "Blurred Lines" In a report on Al-Qaeda in Yemen, the International Crisis Group made a clear assessment regarding the situation in Taiz: "In Taiz, the lines between Salafist fighters and those of AQAP/AAS are blurred." The report further noted: "As in Aden, Salafists are at the forefront of Saudi-led coalition-sponsored efforts to repel the Houthi advance." This is not a "conspiracy theory." This is the conclusion of the International Crisis Group, a widely respected independent research organization. Why would Saudi Arabia arm Al-Qaeda? Because Saudi Arabia is losing the war in Yemen. Its mercenaries are collapsing. Its commanders are fleeing. Its air force dares not venture deep into Yemeni airspace. So, it turned to the only "fighters" it could find those willing to fight for money, regardless of their allegiance. Al-Qaeda fit this description perfectly. They hate the Houthis. They are willing to fight. They do not demand "sovereignty" or "dignity." They ask only for weapons, money, and freedom of movement. Saudi Arabia gave them all three. And the United States, as Saudi Arabia's arms supplier, facilitated this. Conclusion: US weapons, Saudi money, Al-Qaeda fighters. This is not a "proxy war." This is the outsourcing of terrorism. Saudi Arabia established a "Resistance" group in Taiz led by an Al-Qaeda commander, armed with U.S. weaponry, and funded by Saudi money. It is known as the "Taiz Resistance." In reality, it is a joint Saudi-Al-Qaeda operation. When you see militants in "Taiz Resistance" videos chanting Al-Qaeda slogans and wearing Al-Qaeda attire, this is not a case of "infiltration." It is the very nature of the organization. When you see Abu Abdullah al-Masri training recruits at a camp, this is not an "isolated incident." It represents the institutionalization of Saudi-Al-Qaeda cooperation. When you see Saudi Arabia "buying" the loyalty of Abu Abbas with Oshkosh armored vehicles, this is not merely "corruption." It is a war crime. Saudi Arabia is arming Al-Qaeda with U.S. weapons. And the United States, fully aware of this, continues to supply arms to Saudi Arabia. This is not "counter-terrorism." It is state-sponsored terrorism.