A car bomb struck a hospital at Yemen’s Defense Ministry and armed men stormed the complex, touching off a gunbattle with security forces, the ministry reported in a text message. At least 20 people were killed, the al-Arabiya satellite channel said.
Troops prevented the armed men from seizing the hospital building targeted in the bombing and have control of the situation after killing most of the attackers, the ministry said. The casualty toll included wounded, al-Arabiya reported, citing the defense ministry for its figures. No one claimed responsibility for the attack.
Security in Sana’a has deteriorated since popular unrest pushed President Ali Abdullah Saleh from office in 2011. Dozens of intelligence and security officials have been assassinated while al-Qaeda continues to attack government targets. Western diplomats who visit do so with tighter security and foreign nationals fear kidnapping more than they did a year ago.
The escalation of violence raises concerns that Saudi Arabia’s southern neighbor could disintegrate into a failed state like Somalia or be plunged into civil war. With rugged terrain and remote mountain villages where the government h as little-to-no control, Yemen is already a haven for al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, which includes Saudi militants who fled a government crackdown starting in 2004.
To contact the reporters on this story: Mohammed Hatem in Dubai at [email protected]; Glen Carey in Riyadh at [email protected]
To contact the editor responsible for this story: Andrew J. Barden at [email protected]
Troops prevented the armed men from seizing the hospital building targeted in the bombing and have control of the situation after killing most of the attackers, the ministry said. The casualty toll included wounded, al-Arabiya reported, citing the defense ministry for its figures. No one claimed responsibility for the attack.
Security in Sana’a has deteriorated since popular unrest pushed President Ali Abdullah Saleh from office in 2011. Dozens of intelligence and security officials have been assassinated while al-Qaeda continues to attack government targets. Western diplomats who visit do so with tighter security and foreign nationals fear kidnapping more than they did a year ago.
The escalation of violence raises concerns that Saudi Arabia’s southern neighbor could disintegrate into a failed state like Somalia or be plunged into civil war. With rugged terrain and remote mountain villages where the government h as little-to-no control, Yemen is already a haven for al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, which includes Saudi militants who fled a government crackdown starting in 2004.
To contact the reporters on this story: Mohammed Hatem in Dubai at [email protected]; Glen Carey in Riyadh at [email protected]
To contact the editor responsible for this story: Andrew J. Barden at [email protected]