Several explosions shook Aden airport yesterday before the arrival of the plane carrying the Yemeni executive

Attack on Yemeni government leaves at least 26 dead and more than 50 injured

photo_camera REUTERS/FAWAZ SALMAN - Explosions hit Aden airport, upon the arrival of the newly formed Yemeni government in Aden, Yemen, on 30 December 2020

After yesterday's initial confusion, the figures from yesterday's attack on the Yemeni cabinet at Aden International Airport are now known. The number of dead is now 26, including several members of the Red Cross. The number of wounded is over fifty, so the number of dead could even increase over the next few days.

The arrival of the new government in the temporary capital from Riyadh was a symbolic act of certification of the agreement reached between the Yemeni president, Abd Rabbu Mansour al-Hadi, supported by Saudi Arabia and the Southern Transition Council (SCT), backed by the United Arab Emirates. Both sides had agreed on a coalition government with which to form a united front against the Hutu rebels, who still control the country's capital, Sana'a, and who are mainly assisted by Iran.

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The attack, which would have consisted of several mortar shells and the detonation of explosives at the airport itself, has not yet been called for by any group. Nor has it been claimed by the Hutus, who deny any connection with the attack and accuse groups linked to the SCT, which is now part of the government.

The new cabinet had only been in office for a few days, having been sworn in at a ceremony in Riyadh. The Saudi Arabian capital has become the epicentre of the fight against the rebels, as the country leads the international coalition against them, despite the internal disputes that have arisen with respect to the Emirates over their support for the Southern Transition Council.

Condemnations of the attack have come from all over the world owing to its serious intentions. The United Nations, through the secretary general, António Guterres, and the special envoy for Yemen, Martin Griffiths, have expressed their absolute condemnation of the attack, and have shown their support for the political process that has been developing between Yemenis and South Yemenis.

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The members of the government, who were unharmed as they had not yet stepped off the plane at the time of the explosion, also expressed their condemnation of the attack. Government spokesman Rajé Badi called the attack "a cowardly and treacherous act". President Mansour al-Hadi and Prime Minister Abdulmalek Main also reaffirmed their commitment to "the restoration of the country" and the victory of "good over evil".

The conflict in Yemen is one of those that is having the greatest impact on the population, as some 80 percent of the population is in a situation of humanitarian crisis and in need of assistance, mainly food. The country has been in civil conflict since 2014, when Hutu rebels staged a coup against President Al-Hadi and took over the capital.

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