As Yemen slides into chaos, al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) has taken advantage of the deteriorating security and political situation to gain further ground in the country. The jihadist group recently took control of a large chunk of the southeastern province of Hadhramaut. Our Observer explains how AQAP 's jihadists have been tightening their grip over the region and its inhabitants on a daily basis.Air strikes carried out by an alliance of Gulf states have largely slowed the advance of Shiite Houthi rebels in southern Yemen. But that hasn't been their only consequence. In just four months AQAP has managed to wrest control of several cities in Hadhramaut, including the region's capital, the port city of Mukalla. Militants have even taken over the local branch of Yemen's central bank, police stations and military headquarters.