Yemenis march in Mukalla, eastern Yemen, to protest the presence of AlQaeda in their city

Hundreds of Yemenis marched through the streets of Mukalla city, eastern Yemen, to protest the presence of AlQaeda in their city. AlQaeda has taken control of the city of Mukalla, the capital of Hadhramaut governorate, including its airport for about a month now.

AlQaeda or AQAP (AlQaeda in the Arabian Peninsula), or as they call themselves in Yemen “”Ansar Alshariah” has been present in Yemen for many years, taken advantage of the political instability in Yemen since Yemen’s Revolution in 2011. And as internal conflicts intensify in Yemen, with the latest addition of the Saudi-led coalition air campaign, AQAP is making huge strides in extending its presence and control in the eastern parts of the country.

The Saudi-led Aggression on Yemen, which started on March 26, 2015, made it easier for AQAP to expand in the governorate of Hadhramaut, as the airstrikes hammered Yemen from North to South destroying infrastructure and killing hundreds of people, with internal ground battles being fought in multiple Yemeni governorates, making it harder for local and central government to drive AQAP out.

The following are images of the march held in the city of Mukalla: