Yemen: dead and injured in explosions at Aden airport
Thick black smoke erupted from one of the buildings at Aden airport, where Yemen's new unity government landed.
REUTERS - FAWAZ SALMAN
Text by: RFI Follow
3 min
At least ten people died and dozens more were injured this Wednesday, December 30 at the airport in Aden, the large city in southern Yemen.
Assessment of several explosions which took place at a very particular time: when the new unity government of Yemen landed in Aden, to start working there.
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According to media and witnesses at the airport, the blasts rang out as the plane carrying the Yemeni leadership touched down on the runway and as officials began to exit.
Thick black smoke billowed from an airport building as debris was thrown around, sparking panic among those present, according to images broadcast by Saudi television channel Al-Hadath.
Gunshots were also heard.
So far, there is no indication that members of the government have been affected.
"
We are fine,
" tweeted the new Foreign Minister Ahmed ben Mubarak.
A new unity government formed under the aegis of Saudi Arabia
Information Minister Muammar al-Iryani on Twitter accused the Houthi rebels of having carried out this "
terrorist attack
".
The explosions have not been claimed, however, but Yemen's new government has no shortage of enemies.
The Houthis, but also al-Qaeda and Islamic State jihadist groups, have in the past carried out attacks targeting the Yemeni government and its supporters.
This team -
formed on December 18
- brings together, on the one hand, the camp of President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi, recognized by the international community, and, on the other hand, separatists from southern Yemen.
The alliance between these two forces has been shaken by different crises over the past six years.
The most
recent reconciliation
was obtained by Saudi Arabia, the main regional support of Yemeni President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi.
The new unity government is supposed to display a united front against the Shiite Houthi rebellion.
Supported by Iran, the Houthis control large areas of Yemen, including Sana'a, the capital.
This is why Aden, in the south of the country, has been home to the official government for years.
► To read also:
Yemen: the UN urges not to worsen "an already disastrous situation"
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Yemen
Abd Rabbo Mansour Hadi