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Large explosions and gunshots were heard at the Aden airport in Yemen. The attacker struck shortly after noon in front of a crowd of 2,000, according to Saudi state media.
A correspondent for Al Arabiya reported that several people were feared to die in the mortar attack. However, no government minister was injured. At least five people were killed and at least 20 others were injured in the blast, Russian news outlet Sputnik News reported, citing its own sources.
Members of Yemen’s newly formed government reportedly heard loud explosions and gunfire shortly after arriving at Aden airport from Saudi Arabia on a plane on Wednesday. A video posted from a Somali Guardian Twitter account showed three large explosions and gunshots inside the airport shortly after the plane carrying Yemen’s newly formed ministers arrived.
#BREAK: Video shows the moment when 3 massive explosions and gunshots were heard inside a terminal at Aden International Airport shortly after the plane transported #YemenThe new government landed at the airport. Multiple deaths and injuries were reported. pic.twitter.com/tIEg0zu4Mj
– Somaliguardian (@SomaliGuardian) December 30, 2020
Sky News reports that drones were heard flying at the airport prior to the explosion.
Witnesses and various Saudi media reported that members of the cabinet, including Prime Minister Moin Abdul Malik, were escorted to the presidential palace in Aden after the explosions and shelling.
In 2015, Yemen’s President Mansour Hadi was overthrown and the capital, Sanaa, was taken over by pro-Iranian Houthi rebels. The deposed Hadi was forced to take refuge in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia. As soon as the Houthis took power, part of Hadi’s loyal army began to fight them. In March 2015, the Saudi-Emirati military alliance launched a military offensive against the Houthi rebels dubbed “Operation Decisive Storm.” Hundreds of thousands of civilians were killed in Saudi airstrikes on schools, markets, hospitals and funeral prayers. Many more were injured. Yemen is on the brink of famine.
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