Yemen Defence Ministry’ spokesman issued a statement this Thursday afternoon in which he strongly condemned today’s attack against the Defence Ministry’s building in the Yemeni capital, Sana’a, warning that such atrocity will be severely punished and all guilty parties brought to justice.
The Defence Ministry explained in a statement that armed militants exploited a lull in security caused by construction work at the military hospital to punch a hole into the ministry ‘security lines. The statement read, "The attackers have exploited some construction work there to carry out this criminal act ... the situation is under control.”
Security experts noted that today’s attack had clearly been sought out and carefully planned. Determined to inflict maximum damage, rammed an explosive-laden vehicle into the Defence Ministry while another group attempted to storm security on-foot.
Official sources confirmed that President Abdo Rabbo Mansour Hadi’s nephew, who was visiting his ailing father in hospital this morning died in the bomb blast. The President’s brother remains in intensive care under the watchful eyes of his medical team. President Hadi reportedly travelled to the hospital, which fell directly within the bomb blast, upon hearing that his brother and nephew were among the victims.
As Sana’a remains under the highest state of alert possible, residents in Bab al-Yemen claimed to have heard a series of smaller explosions during the day, which they say could have been caused by heavy artillery.
Since security officials have remained tight-lipped, one could assume that armed militants tried to capitalize on today’s attack by taking advantage of the commotion and carry out further strikes against the armed forces.
Residents in Hadda, southern district of Sana’a, said to have heard and felt the explosion, such was the intensity of the explosion.