Yemeni Police Chief survives second assassination attempt

Police Chief Shallal al-Shayei survived a similar assassination attempt last month, as did the governor of the province, which forces loyal to the internationally recognised government pried away from Houthi rebels last year.

Aden's previous governor was killed in an attack claimed by a local Islamic State group affiliate.

Ambulances raced to the police chief's house after the explosion, which could be heard across the city, witnesses said.

An armoured vehicle blocked the suicide car bomber meters from the gates of the house, officials said.

Seven people were killed and 12 injured after the explosion ripped through a bus that was passing by.

Yemen has been mired in a conflict pitting Houthi rebels against the internationally-backed government, which is allied with a Saudi-led coalition.

The fighting has killed more than 5,800 people since last March, when the coalition began striking Houthi targets from the air.

The chaos has allowed a powerful local al-Qaeda affiliate and a more recently formed branch of the Islamic State group to expand their reach, including in Aden, Yemen's commercial hub.

The Saudi-led coalition appears to have stepped up airstrikes in northern Yemen targeting the Houthis and allied army units loyal to a former president.

Residents said the coalition launched at least 35 strikes on Sunday in the capital and the northern province of Jawf.

In Saada, the Houthis' northern heartland, Houthi officials and witnesses said an air raid killed at least 30 people on Saturday.

It was not clear if they were civilians or fighters.