Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) is a major terrorist organization whose intent is to push would-be jihadists, who are more willing to use its gruesome tactics to carry out their their local ambitions. The government of Yemen continues to fight for the provinces occupied by AQAP. Areas such as Abyan and Shabwa provinces are partially or entirely outside government control. The information provided in this document is intended to enable a better understanding of the agenda behind AQAP while examining AQAP's influence of regional and global significance, particularly US interests. Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula is formerly known as Al Qaeda in Yemen (AQY). in 1998, after the dissolution of the Islamic Jihad in Yemen (1990-1994) and the Army of Aden in Abyan (1994-1998). The bombing of the USS Cole and the French tanker M/V Limburg illustrated the beginning of a threat to US interest in the region by AQY. Abu Ali al-Harithi was the leader of AQY and was killed in 2002 by a US drone strike. The death of this criminalist leader hampered AQY's operations and threw them into disarray. Unfortunately, in 2006, twenty-three terrorists escaped from prison in Sanaa, Yemen, which marked a critical turning point for AQY. In 2008, a member of Al Qaeda fled across the border into Yemen due to the Saudi government's crackdown. This franchise merged with AQY and in 2009 merged under the banner of AQAP. Members of the previously mentioned groups currently hold leadership positions in AQAP (Masters, 2011). Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula has a significant impact on regional interests within Yemen. Since the reconstitution of Al Qaeda in 2009, AQAP has continued to put pressure on various forces...... The peninsula is likely to continue its growth and reach out to the world to continue the jihad and push for all people to be consumed under the Muslim faith. Works Cited Barfi, B. (2010). Yemen on the brink: the resurgence of al Qaeda in Yemen. New American Foundation, Retrieved from http://www.newamerica.net/sites/newamerica.net/files/policydocs/Barfi.pdfMasters, J. (2011). Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP). Council on Foreign Relations, Retrieved from http://www.cfr.org/yemen/al-qaeda-arabian-peninsula-aqap/p9369Smarick, K., & Miller, E. (2011, September). Background report: Al-Qa'ida in the Arabian Peninsula (aqap), Anwar al-Awlaki and Samir Khan. Retrieved from http://www.start.umd.edu/start/publications/br/BR_AQAP_alAwlakiandKhan.pdf