SANAA, Yemen – In southern Yemen, tragedy struck as an explosion from an explosive device resulted in the deaths of six troops aligned with a United Arab Emirates-backed secessionist group on Monday. This incident, attributed to suspected al-Qaida militants, is the latest in a series of attacks in the conflict-ridden country.
According to Mohamed al-Naqib, a spokesperson for the Southern Armed Forces, the military wing of the secessionist Southern Transitional Council, the blast targeted a military vehicle in the Modiyah district of southern Abyan province. Along with the six fatalities, eleven other troops sustained injuries in the attack.
The secessionist Southern Transitional Council, which receives support from the UAE, controls a significant portion of Yemen’s southern region. Despite their differences with the internationally recognized government, both factions are united in their fight against the Houthi rebels who hold power in northern Yemen and the capital city of Sanaa.
Al-Naqib pointed fingers at al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) for the attack. AQAP is considered to be one of the more dangerous branches of the terrorist organization, continuing its operations even after the death of its founder Osama bin Laden over a decade ago.
Amid Yemen’s devastating civil war that began in 2014 with the Houthi seizure of Sanaa, AQAP has taken advantage of the chaotic situation to strengthen its presence in various parts of the country. The ongoing conflict has left the nation in ruins, displaced many, and caused immense suffering to the civilian population.