An explosion has hit an area near Yemen’s Ministry of Defense in the capital, Sana’a, security sources say.
Armed clashes erupted near the ministry after the explosion, which occurred on Thursday.
Following the incident, the Yemeni military said at least 20 people were killed and dozens injured in the bomb attack.
“The attack took place shortly after working hours started at the ministry,” said a Yemeni Defense Ministry source.
The bombing targeted a hospital in the area.
“The explosion was very violent, the whole place shook because of it and plumes of smoke rose from the building,” a witness said.
No group has claimed responsibility for the bombing, which is the latest in a series of attacks that usually target military personnel in Yemen.
The attacks are usually blamed on al-Qaeda or its affiliates. Shabwa Province is a stronghold of al-Qaeda.
On November 22, two gunmen on a motorbike gunned down Yemeni lawmaker Abdel Karim Jadban in the capital.
On November 18, gunmen attacked security personnel near a gas terminal in the southern province of Shabwa, killing eight policemen. Gunmen also carried out three separate attacks, involving car bombings, in Shabwa, killing over 50 Yemeni soldiers in September.
Attacks against Yemeni military personnel have been on the rise over the past months.
Death toll in attacks on Yemen’s Def. Min. hits 52
The death toll from terrorist attacks on Yemen’s Defense Ministry complex in the capital Sana’a rises to 52.
On Thursday, a car bomb went off near the ministry’s complex in the city.
The explosion was followed by fighting which erupted between gunmen wearing army fatigues and the ministry’s guards at a hospital inside.
On the same day, Yemen’s supreme security committee issued a statement saying that “This terrorist act has killed 52 people.”
Reports say that scores more were injured in the attacks.
Officials say some of the victims were foreign nationals including medical staff from Germany, Vietnam, the Philippines and India.
Reports say another explosion has rocked Yemen’s intelligence service headquarters.
There are also reports of fresh clashes between security forces and gunmen in Sana’a.
Meanwhile, Iran’s Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Marzieh Afkham has condemned the attacks.
No group has claimed responsibility for the attacks. However, such assaults are usually blamed on al-Qaeda or its affiliates.
On November 22, two gunmen on a motorbike gunned down Yemeni lawmaker Abdel Karim Jadban in the capital.
On November 18, gunmen attacked security personnel near a gas terminal in the southern province of Shabwa, killing eight policemen. Gunmen also carried out three separate attacks, involving car bombings, in Shabwa, killing over 50 Yemeni soldiers in September.
Attacks against Yemeni military personnel have been on the rise over the past months.