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.



Netanyahu Tells Iran No Part of Region Out of Israel’s Reach as Land Invasion Looms

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gestures after speaking during the 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly at the United Nations headquarters in New York City on September 27, 2024. (AFP)
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gestures after speaking during the 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly at the United Nations headquarters in New York City on September 27, 2024. (AFP)
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Netanyahu Tells Iran No Part of Region Out of Israel’s Reach as Land Invasion Looms

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gestures after speaking during the 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly at the United Nations headquarters in New York City on September 27, 2024. (AFP)
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gestures after speaking during the 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly at the United Nations headquarters in New York City on September 27, 2024. (AFP)

Israel warned Iran on Monday that nowhere in the Middle East was beyond its reach and hinted at a land invasion of Lebanon after assassinating the leader of the Tehran-backed Hezbollah group, one of its biggest adversaries, in a Beirut suburb last week.

"There is nowhere we will not go to protect our people and protect our country," Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a three-minute video clip in English that he addressed to the Iranian people.

Friday's assassination of Nasrallah - the most powerful leader in Tehran's "Axis of Resistance" against Israeli and US interests in the Middle East - was one of the heaviest blows in decades to both Hezbollah and Iran.

After two weeks of intensive airstrikes and a string of assassinations of Hezbollah commanders, Israel, which has been training its troops for a ground invasion, indicated that a land invasion was an option in Lebanon.

Speaking to troops deployed along Israel's northern border, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said Israel would do whatever it takes to ensure the return of citizens who have fled Hezbollah rockets during nearly a year of border warfare.

"We will use all the means that may be required – your forces, other forces, from the air, from the sea, and on land. Good luck," said Gallant, who was briefed by commanders.

"The elimination of Nasrallah is an important step, but it is not the final one. In order to ensure the return of Israel’s northern communities, we will employ all of our capabilities, and this includes you."

The Washington Post cited an unidentified US official as saying Israel had already told the US it was planning a ground operation that may start imminently.

The operation would be smaller than Israel's 2006 war against Hezbollah and focus on security for border communities, the official said.

Asked about the reports, US President Joe Biden, who has so far had little success urging Israel to rein in its campaigns, called for a ceasefire, telling reporters: "I'm comfortable with them stopping."

The Pentagon referred reporters to Israel for questions on any land offensive.