Yemeni Suicide Bomber Kills 16 Pro-Government Soldiers in Abyan Attack

A suicide bomber attacked a military post in Yemen’s Abyan province on Friday, killing 16 pro-government soldiers and injuring 18 others.

The attacker drove a bomb-laden car into the security forces’ site in Mudiyah district. Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) claimed responsibility for the attack, which targeted forces affiliated with the Southern Transitional Council (STC), a group backed by the UAE. AQAP has been active in southern Yemen, with previous attacks on STC forces.

The group has exploited Yemen’s ongoing conflict, including the war between the Iran-allied Houthis and the Saudi-backed coalition, to expand its influence. AQAP recently saw a leadership change following the death of its leader Khalid Batarfi.