Suicide Bomber Targets Yemeni Soldiers, 16 Killed

A suicide bomber attacked a military post in Yemen’s Abyan province on August 16, killing 16 pro-government soldiers and injuring 18 others, Al Jazeera reported yesterday.

The Southern Transitional Council (STC) reported that the attacker drove a booby-trapped vehicle into the security forces’ site in the Mudiyah district. Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) claimed responsibility for the attack, highlighting the group’s ongoing operations in southern Yemen, where it frequently targets STC-affiliated forces.

The STC, which supports the internationally recognized Yemeni government against the Iran-aligned Houthi rebels, seeks independence for southern Yemen. The ongoing conflict has allowed AQAP to strengthen its influence in the region. This incident raises concerns about escalating violence in Yemen amid a fragile ceasefire, as diplomatic efforts continue to find a lasting resolution to the prolonged conflict. The situation remains precarious, with AQAP’s activities adding to the instability in the war-torn country.