Yemen Airport Is Attacked; 22 dead reported (videos)

YEMEN.- A huge explosion shook the airport in the city of #Goodbyen, in southern #Yemen, shortly after a plane carrying the newly formed cabinet, reported security officials. #At least 22 people lost their lives and 50 were injured.

❮
❯

#It would be an attack on the plane

The source of the blast was not immediately clear and so far no group has claimed responsibility for the attack.

The moment of the explosion

#Images and videos showed various members of the government disembarking as the explosion shook the airport. #No one aboard the plane was injured, p#But many ministers began running to the plane or ran down the stairs, seeking refuge.

##Yemen ##Aden
#Missiles against the new unity government of the south of the country https://t.co/maMJHJp5jq

– mikel ayestaran (@mikelayestaran) #December 30, 2020

A column of thick smoke rose over the area, near the airport terminal building. #Officials in the area said they saw bodies on the runway and in other parts of the airport.

#Drone attacks

🇾🇪 #Explosion at #Aden airport upon arrival of #Yemen’s new recognized government, following agreement with the southern separatist STC to form a unity government. #At least there would be 5 dead. pic.twitter.com/wRTuQbIKTj

— FUCKThĒĒliT3 (@FuckTheElit3) #December 30, 2020

#Naguib al-Awg, a communications minister who was on the government plane, told the AP that he heard two explosions, indicating that the attacks would have been perpetrated with drones.

The first #Minister, #Maeen #Abdulmalik #Saeed, and other officials were quickly removed from the airport to the #Mashiq #Palace in the city.
“#It would have been a disaster if the plane had been attacked with a bomb,” he commented, insisting that the plane was the target of the attack since it was supposed to land earlier.

🇾🇪 | URGENT: #Yemen’s #Unity #Government #Information #Minister has accused the #Houthis of the attack on the #Aden airport pic.twitter.com/459Ea6M1ya

– #Alerta #News 24 (@ #AlertaNews24) #December 30, 2020

#More than a score of dead

The deputy director of the #Aden health office, #Mohammed al-Roubid, told that at least 16 people were killed in the blast and 60 were injured. #Subsequently, the #Interior #Ministry said there were 22 deaths and 50 injuries.

#Images shared on social media showed debris and broken glass strewn near the airport building and at least two bodies on the floor, one of them charred. #In another image, a man was helping another in ragged clothes up from the ground.

##Last hour: #Report explosions at #Yemen airport. There are several injured.##News with @ #Carlos1Hurtado pic.twitter.com/dreewxqSRk

– #Televisa #News (@NTelevisa_com) #December 30, 2020

#Three #Red #Cross workers were injured, although it was unknown whether they were #Yemeni or of another nationality, according to a national security official. #All officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media.

The gabinet

The ministers were returning to #Aden after being sworn in last week as part of a shake-up following a deal with separatist rivals to the south. The #Yemeni government worked primarily from self-imposed exile in the #Saudi capital of #Riyadh during the country’s years of civil war.

#El presidente #Abed #Rabbo #Mansour #Hadi, exiled in #Saudi #Arabia, announced a cabinet shakeup earlier this month.

The reorganization was seen as an important step in closing a dangerous gap between his internationally recognized government and southern separatists, respled by #Iran and the #United #Arab #Emirates.

#War

#Hadi’s government, backed by #Saudi #Arabia, is at war with the #Houthi rebels, who control most of northern #Yemen, as well as the capital, #Sana’a.

The UN special envoy in #Yemen, #Martin #Griffiths, as well as #Egypt, #Jordan and the #Arab #League condemned the violence.

#Yemen #Airport #Is #Attacked as #New #Government #Arrives https://t.co/ljTWWUi96o

— #Joanne #Marie #Rumford (@JoanneRumford) #December 30, 2020

#It may interest you: #California nurse, positive for #Covid after receiving #Pfizer vaccine

.- #With information from AP and The #New #York #Times.