Suicide attack kills 7 in Yemen's Aden

Seven had been killed and seven injured after a suicide attack in Aden, the second deadly attack in the Yemeni city in two days, said security sources.

MENA

2 min read

The New Arab & agencies

30 January, 2016

The bombing targeted a police checkpoint not far from Thursday's suicide attack [AFP]

A suicide bombing killed seven people and wounded seven others Friday night in Aden, the second deadly attack in as many days in Yemen's second city, medics and security sources said.

The bombing targeted a police checkpoint not far from Thursday's suicide attack that killed eight people, including soldiers and civilians, outside the presidential palace in the city, the sources said.

A hospital spokesman confirmed that seven people were killed in Friday's bombing.

There was no immediate claim of responsiblity for the attack on Friday but the jihadist Islamic State group said it was responsible for Thursday's bombing.

Al-Qaeda and its rival IS both have a presence in Aden, where jihadists occupy government buildings and are seen patrolling several districts and intimidating civilians.

They have claimed a string of attacks and assassinations in recent months.

President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi was in the palace at the time of Thursday's attack but was unharmed, a government official said.

Aden has become the temporary headquarters of Hadi's government as it battles to retake large parts of Yemen from Shia Houthi rebels.

Hadi fled to Aden after escaping house arrest in the capital Sanaa, which was overran by the Houthis in September 2014.

More than 5,800 people have been killed in Yemen since the coalition air campaign was launched ten months ago.

The rebels then moved south forcing Hadi to flee in March to Riyadh.

But Hadi loyalists backed by Saudi-led air strikes recaptured the port city of Aden but they are still battling to retake other provinces and push toward the rebel-held capital.

The United Nations says more than 5,800 people have been killed in the impoverished Arabian Peninsula state, about half of them civilians, since the coalition air campaign was launched ten months ago.

Earlier this week, the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation said more that than half of Yemen's population face hunger as prices skyrocket due to the ongoing conflict and import restrictions.