Bloody Day in Aden, Yemen's Legitimacy Blames Iran

Soldiers react after a missile attack on a military parade during a graduation ceremony for newly recruited troopers in Aden, Yemen August 1, 2019. REUTERS/Fawaz Salman
Soldiers react after a missile attack on a military parade during a graduation ceremony for newly recruited troopers in Aden, Yemen August 1, 2019. REUTERS/Fawaz Salman
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Bloody Day in Aden, Yemen's Legitimacy Blames Iran

Soldiers react after a missile attack on a military parade during a graduation ceremony for newly recruited troopers in Aden, Yemen August 1, 2019. REUTERS/Fawaz Salman
Soldiers react after a missile attack on a military parade during a graduation ceremony for newly recruited troopers in Aden, Yemen August 1, 2019. REUTERS/Fawaz Salman

Separate attacks killed at least 49 people and injured dozens others in Yemen's temporary capital Aden on Thursday, drawing large scale condemnation.

Military and security sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that the first attack was a suicide car bombing carried out by militants most likely linked to ISIS terrorist group.

They said two militants in the car targeted a police station in Aden's Sheikh Othman district, leaving dozens of casualties and huge damages in nearby buildings and houses.

Medical sources said that 13 policemen were killed and around 20 other people, including passersby, were injured.

The second attack was carried out by the Iran-backed Houthi militias, who said they launched a drone and a ballistic missile at a training camp west of Aden.

The aerial attack hit as senior commanders were overseeing a passing out parade for newly graduated cadets at Al-Jala Camp, in the city's neighborhood of Breiqa, 20 kilometers from the center of Aden.

Sources said the blast occurred behind the stand where the ceremony was taking place. Photos circulated after the attack showed a huge crater on the ground.

Brigadier General Muneer al-Yafee in addition to 35 others were killed.

The Houthis claimed responsibility for the missile strike in a statement by a military spokesman, Brig. Gen. Yehia Sarea. He said the insurgents had fired a medium-range ballistic missile at the parade.

In January, drones belonging to the Houthis attacked a Yemeni government military parade in the southern province of Lahaj, killing and injuring dozens of people.

The parade was taking place inside a military base in al-Anad district.

The Saudi envoy to Yemen, Mohammed Al Jabir, condemned Thursday’s two attacks in Aden, saying on Twitter that they indicate that Iran "shares common goals with fellow terrorists such as ISIS and al-Qaeda".

Yemen's Prime Minister Maeen Abdulmalik also accused Iran of being behind the parade attack and the blast at the police station.

The Yemeni government said the "source and purpose (of the attacks) were the same".

"The two attacks prove the Houthi militia rebels and other terrorist groups are sharing roles and complementing each other in a war against the Yemeni people," it added in a statement.

Internationally, the European Union condemned the attack, extending condolences to the families of the victims.

It stressed the importance for all parties involved in the conflict in Yemen to exercise maximum restraint, saying it expected them to fulfill their respective commitments and engage with the UN Special Envoy in a constructive spirit, to achieve a comprehensive political agreement that sets the country on the course to sustainable peace.



French Foreign Minister in Beirut Despite Israeli Air Strikes

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot (AFP)
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot (AFP)
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French Foreign Minister in Beirut Despite Israeli Air Strikes

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot (AFP)
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot (AFP)

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot arrived in Beirut on Sunday night, his ministry said, making him the first high-level foreign diplomat to visit since Israeli air strikes intensified across the country.
Barrot will hold talks with Lebanese and UN officials. His arrival as the foreign ministry announced that a second French national had been killed in Lebanon, though details were unclear.
“We confirm the death of a second French national,” the French ministry said Sunday, adding that further details will be supplied later.
In Beirut, Barrot will hold talks with Lebanese officials over the current situation and provide French support, particularly humanitarian support, Lebanon’s National News Agency, NNA, reported.
Speaking with Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati on Saturday, Barrot said Paris wanted “an immediate halt to Israeli strikes in Lebanon” and was “opposed to any ground operation.”
Also on Saturday, French Prime Minister Michel Barnier called the situation in Lebanon “extremely serious” and said he was “concerned for the safety” of French citizens there.
But the foreign ministry has so far stopped short of urging French nationals to leave Lebanon.
President Emmanuel Macron’s special Lebanon envoy and former defense minister Jean-Yves Le Drian visited Beirut last week, his sixth trip to the country, urging political forces to come together to elect a president after a long delay.
Le Drian has not spoken to the press about the visit.