A car bomb exploded Wednesday north of Aden, killing three people and wounding several others in an attack that witnesses and officials say targeted Hamdy Shoukry, a senior commander of the Saudi-backed Giants Brigades. Shoukry survived; four members of his motorcade were injured and at least three bodies were taken to Ibn Khaldoun Hospital, according to witnesses and medical staff. A security official confirmed the motorcade was hit but spoke on condition of anonymity; no group has claimed responsibility amid Yemen's decade-long civil war.
Car Bomb North of Aden Kills Three; Saudi-Backed Giants Brigades Commander Survives
This is a locator map for Yemen with its capital, Sanaa. (AP Photo)(ASSOCIATED PRESS)
ADEN, Yemen (AP) — A car bomb detonated Wednesday north of Aden, killing three people in an attack witnesses and security officials said appeared to target a senior commander of a Saudi-backed armed group in southern Yemen.
Witnesses Thabet al-Azab and Khaled al-Sebeihy identified the apparent target as Hamdy Shoukry, a senior commander in the Giants Brigades. Shoukry survived the blast, authorities said, while four people traveling in the motorcade that was transporting him were wounded.
At least three bodies were taken to Ibn Khaldoun Hospital, according to nurse Ahmed Khalil. A security official told The Associated Press that Shoukry's motorcade was struck; the official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to brief the media. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack.
Context
Yemen has been mired for more than a decade in a civil war shaped by complex sectarian and tribal grievances and the involvement of regional powers. The Giants Brigades, aligned with Saudi-backed National Shield forces, have been working to regain control of areas in southern Yemen that were seized by Emirati-backed separatists in December.
Security forces in the region are investigating the bombing and local officials provided initial casualty figures. Associated Press writer Fatma Khaled in Cairo contributed to this report.
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