| Aden-Abyan Islamic Army | |
|---|---|
| جيش عدن أبين الإسلامي | |
 | |
| Leaders | Abu Hasan Zayn al-Abadin al-Mihdhar (1996 or 1997–1998) †[1] Khalid Abd al-Nabi (1998–2009) |
| Dates of operation | 1996 or 1997–2009[2] |
| Headquarters | Abyan, Yemen |
| Active regions | Southern Yemen |
| Ideology | Salafist jihadism Islamic fundamentalism |
| Size | 30–100[3] |
| Allies |  Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula Ansar al-Sharia |
| Opponents |  Yemen |
| Battles and wars | Al-Qaeda insurgency in Yemen |
The Aden-Abyan Islamic Army (AAIA, Arabic: جيش عدن أبين الإسلامي) was a Sunni Islamist militant group based in southern Yemen founded by Abu Hasan Zayn al-Abadin al-Mihdhar.[4] The groups goals were to overthrow the Yemeni government and establish an Islamic state, as well as support the jihad of al-Qaeda.[5] AAIA was designated a terrorist organization by Bahrain,[6] Canada and the United Kingdom.[7] AAIA is thought to have organized in southern Yemen in the mid 1990s, with members that include veterans from the Soviet war in Afghanistan.[8] Their stated mission is to "promote jihad in the fight against secularism in Yemen and other Arab States; to establish an Islamic government in Yemen".[9] By 2009, the group's remaining members had subsumed in the newly formed al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula.[10]
- ^ Cook, David (2 January 2006). "Aden-Abyan Islamic Army". Archived from the original on 10 February 2006. Retrieved 12 February 2006.
- ^ "PARADIGMATIC JIHADI MOVEMENTS" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 15 June 2024. Retrieved 6 November 2024.
- ^ "Appendix F – Statement of Reasons – Islamic Army of Aden (IAA)". Parliament of Australia. Archived from the original on 11 May 2024. Retrieved 6 November 2024.
- ^ Pike, John. "Aden-Abyan Islamic Army". www.globalsecurity.org. Archived from the original on 10 February 2006. Retrieved 12 February 2006.
- ^ "Appendix F – Statement of Reasons – Islamic Army of Aden (IAA)". Parliament of Australia. Archived from the original on 7 November 2024. Retrieved 6 November 2024.
- ^ "Bahrain Terrorist List (Individuals – entities)".
- ^ Terrorism Act 2000 (11, Schedule 2). 2000. Archived from the original on 21 January 2013. Retrieved 2 March 2019.
- ^ "Aden-Abyan Islamic Army | militant organization". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 11 May 2019.
- ^ "Islamic Army of Aden (IAA) – Mackenzie Institute". Mackenzie Institute. 7 January 2016. Archived from the original on 7 November 2016. Retrieved 16 October 2016.
- ^ Al-Muslimi, Farea; Baron, Adam (27 March 2017). "The Limits of US Military Power in Yemen: Why Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula continues to thrive". Sana'a Center For Strategic Studies. Archived from the original on 26 September 2024. Retrieved 7 November 2024.