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Dual explosions rock Al-Baida

Published on 4 March 2015 in News
Ali Aboluhom (author)

Ali Aboluhom


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The Youth House in Al-Baida city, occupied by Houthi militants, was targeted by members of AQAP. (A-Baida news website)

The Youth House in Al-Baida city, occupied by Houthi militants, was targeted by members of AQAP. (A-Baida news website)

SANA’A, March 4—Two explosions targeted Houthis Tuesday in the districts of Al-Baida and Al-Zaher in Al-Baida governorate, leaving a total of ten people dead and 15 injured.

The first explosion occurred at 5 p.m. Tuesday in Al-Baida city. Eight people were killed and 12 others were injured when a car exploded at the Youth House, an institution which used to be run by the Ministry of Youth and Sport and is now occupied by Houthis.

Adel Al-Asbahi, security chief of Al-Baida governorate, told the Yemen Times that a car loaded with three AQAP affiliates targeted the Houthis gathered at the Youth House, killing five Houthis and injuring 12 others.

Three AQAP militants were also killed, one in the explosion and two during the clashes that ensued between with the Houthis in the building.

Fahd Al-Taweel, a journalist based in Al-Baida city, agreed with Al-Asbahi’s version of events. He clarified that the explosion killed five Houthis and one AQAP suspect at the gate outside the Youth House, and the other two AQAP members “jumped out of the car seconds before the explosion then opened fire on Houthis inside the house, injuring 12 before they were shot dead.”

Al-Taweel said Houthi militants have been stationed in the Youth House since they took over the city on Feb. 10, roughly four months after their advance into the governorate.

The house is located inside the Ministry of Youth and Sport’s compound in the city, which also includes a sports stadium and other facilities. According to Al-Taweel, the Houthi militants have been using it as an outpost.



Coordinated attack?

The second attack on Tuesday occurred in Al-Zaher district, which borders Al-Baida to the west. An improvised explosive device (IED) targeted a vehicle carrying Houthis in the district’s Al-Humaikani area, killing two and injuring three.

The attack occurred at 9 p.m, according to Saleh Al-Humaikani, a tribesman from the area, four hours after the one in Al-Baida.

Yahya Abu Ali, a Houthi militant based in Al-Baida city, said that, “The attack that took place in Al-Zaher makes it clear that Al-Qaeda operatives are holed up in this district and we won’t move back until we purge the district from their wrongdoings.”

On Feb. 17, the Houthis entered Al-Zaher hours after signing an agreement brokered by the governorate’s security chief. The deal, between the Houthis and tribesmen from three districts, including Al-Zaher, allowed the Houthis to enter temporarily to target AQAP members and then to withdraw. However, many residents claim the Houthis have violated the agreement.  

Al-Taweel claimed the timing of the attacks was not coincidental and they were “planned by AQAP in a bid to force Houthis out of the governorate, especially after they reneged on the agreement signed between them and tribesmen.”

Al-Humaikani denied the Al-Humaikani tribe had any involvement in the attack, but said that the “Houthis will be targeted not only by AQAP but also by tribesmen as long as they still occupy Al-Zaher district, deploying their militants in public institutions, including schools, and on some mountains under the pretext of pursuing AQAP militants.”

On Tuesday AQAP claimed responsibility for the attack on the Youth House in Al-Baida city. As of Wednesday evening it appeared they had not claimed responsibility for the attack in Al-Zaher, but their Twitter account was deleted.

“The Houthis, through their ongoing and unjustified presence in Al-Zaher… might prompt tribesmen to side with AQAP to fight the Houthis,” Al-Humaikani added.

The Houthis took control of the districts of Dhi Naem and Sharia on Feb. 8. Their advances on both districts came days after violent fighting between Houthis, backed by the army, and tribesmen from those districts who were believed to be backed by AQAP. The fighting left at least 45 dead from both sides and dozens more wounded.

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