Residents in Jaar, a town in Yemen’s southern province of Abyan, told the press that a Yemeni warplane had attacked a mosque in the heart of a residential area, killing at least 7 men. However, local reports are warning that the actual death toll could be far greater as bodies are being recovered.
For the past few months now, several southern towns of the Abyan province have fallen under the control of an armed group called “Ansar al Shariah”, which according to the government has linked with the terror group, al-Qaeda.
Since the Islamists militants overrun, Zinjibar, Abyan’s capital, the regime’s military forces have been trying in vain to force them back. Despite the government’s best efforts and claims that it is making progress, the group is advancing further within Yemen’s southern territories, threatening to overtake neighboring Marib and Shabwa.
Ansar al Shariah set up base in Jaar in April, which led the Defense ministry to concentrate its air raids in the vicinity.
The Jet fighters flew over the area several times as to identify their targets before launching their bombs onto the city, causing widespread panic amongst the population.
Eye-witnesses claimed that al-Razi hospital was targeted. Reportedly 3 medical staff members were injured in the blast. Allegedly, al-Qaeda fighters would have used the medical premises to treat their wounded, forcing doctors to cooperate, and preventing residents from accessing the facility.
Further away, residents of Muthalath district on the outskirts of Jaar confirmed additional bomb attacks, resulting in the injury of another 3 civilians.