A roadside bomb targeted a security commander for pro-government forces in Yemen’s Abyan province on Friday, leaving two of his bodyguards dead and the commander himself injured.
The attack occurred in the eastern Mudiyah district, a region known for its instability and frequent security threats due to the presence of extremist groups, according to a government official who spoke to Xinhua news agency on condition of anonymity.
The official identified the injured commander as Samir Muhlab and reported that he was conducting a routine patrol when the improvised explosive device (IED) detonated near his vehicle.
While no group has publicly claimed responsibility for the bombing, the official blamed al-Qaeda militants operating in Yemen. This attack marks yet another incident in a string of violent acts targeting Yemeni government forces and security personnel.
Yemen has been ravaged by a brutal civil war since 2014, pitting the internationally recognized government against the Houthi rebel group. The ongoing conflict and resulting power vacuum have created a breeding ground for extremist organizations like al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), a Yemeni affiliate of the global terror network.
AQAP’s presence not only poses a significant security threat within Yemen but also raises concerns about potential attacks beyond its borders.
