In a recording released and posted online on Wednesday, the Yemen branch of al-Qaida assumed responsibility for the attack on the Paris-based offices of Charlie Hebdo, saying, “As for the blessed Battle of Paris, we, the Organization of al-Qaida al Jihad in the Arabian Peninsula, claim responsibility for this operation as vengeance for the Messenger of God.”

The attack on the offices of Charlie Hebdo took place one week ago today on January 7th. During the attack, the two gunmen, brothers Cherif and Said Kouachi, shot and killed ten workers at the satire publication then killed two Paris police officers as they made their getaway.

In the recording, the man identified as Nasr al-Ansi, who is a top leader in the al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula, said that the terrorist attack on Charlie Hebdo was carried out “in compliance with the command of Allah and supporting His Messenger, peace be upon Him.” Ansi continued, saying that the killing of the publication’s employees was an “implementation” of orders given by the top al-Qaida leader Ayman al-Zawahri

The al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula is led by Nasser al-Wuhayshi, who is also the number-two man in the overall al-Qaida network.

As a result of the twin-attacks that took place in France in the past week, France’s president, Francois Hallande announced that France was stepping up its participation in the airstrikes directed at ISIS by sending that country’s flagship aircraft carrier to the Middle East region. That announcement came after French lawmakers voted to extend military engagement against the militant group.

ISIS previously took responsibility for the Paris attacks, but further investigation found that the two brothers had traveled to Yemen and received training there in 2011.

  al-qaida, arabian peninsula, attack, charlie hebdo, france, nasr al-ansi, paris