Attack On Yemen Airport Kills Dozens, Injures Hundreds More

A missile attack on Aden International Airport left over 25 people dead and hundreds more injured, following a series of explosions targeting Yemeni cabinet ministers. The December 30th attack occurred shortly after the arrival of a plane carrying the newly formed government cabinet, who were all safe. While there has been no claim of responsibility for the attack, several members of the new government have blamed the Houthis, Iran-backed rebels who currently control the majority of northern Yemen. The country has been ravaged by civil war since 2014, and this new cabinet was viewed as an important step towards resolution.

Several government officials were waiting at the airport to greet the cabinet ministers when the first explosion went off, sending hundreds of people running through a thick cloud of smoke. Gunshots could be heard shortly afterwards, footage of which was captured by the many journalists who had been there to document the arrival of the cabinet ministers. According to an official from Yemen Airways, a second explosion took place only a few minutes later not far from the first, while a third occurred near the runway. The ministers were quickly evacuated to the presidential palace following the explosions, but another attack took place near the palace soon after their arrival. There were no casualties resulting from this second attack.

Prime Minister Maeen Abdulmalik Saeed condemned the attack by saying, “This treacherous, cowardly and terrorist attack, places the government at the heart of its responsibilities, which is the task of ending the coup, restoring the state, spreading stability and the recovery of our country,” as reported by Al-Jazeera. UN Special Envoy to Yemen Martin Griffiths also condemned the attack, calling it an “unacceptable act of violence” and “a tragic reminder of the importance of bringing Yemen urgently back on the path towards peace.” The government has accused the Houthis of being responsible for the attack, with Foreign Minister Ahmed bin Mubarak tweeting that the “targeting of new Cabinet at Aden airport was a criminal and terrorist act perpetrated by Houthis, which should be uniformly and unambiguously condemned.” The Houthis have still denied responsibility for the attack. Among the dead were three staff members of the International Committee of the Red Cross, government officials who had been there to receive the ministers, a reporter for Belqees TV, and several civilians.

The new cabinet intended to put an end to the power struggle between Yemen’s separatist Southern Transitional Council and the current Saudi-backed government, who are supposed to be allies in the country’s ongoing civil war. The rift has weakened the fight against the Houthis and hindered efforts to negotiate potential resolutions to the war, which has killed more than 100,000 people and plunged the country into the world’s worst humanitarian crisis. According to UNICEF, about 80% of the population is in desperate need of humanitarian assistance, including 12 million children.

The arrival of new government served as a sign of hope for Yemen’s civilians, who have suffered under the ravages of civil war for far too long. While this attack is a clear indication of the challenges that lie ahead, the peace agreement between governments will continue to move forward, according to Saudi Ambassador to Yemen Mohammed Al-Jaber. Clearly, the war is far from over, and increased security measures will have to be imposed now that the new government is forming. Countless innocent civilians have died already, and another attack like this one must be prevented at all costs for effective peace.

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