SANA'A // A suicide car bomber struck a convoy of Yemeni Shiites on their way to a religious ceremony on Wednesday, killing 17 and wounding more than 15 people, a security official said.
The official said authorities suspect al-Qaida was behind the attack, which occurred on a road in the al-Jawf province, 109 miles (175 kilometers) east of the capital, Sanaa.
If confirmed, it would be the first reported al-Qaida attack on Yemeni Shiites. The Sunni-led terror network, known for large-scale suicide bombings, regularly attacks Shiites in Iraq.
The Yemeni official said those attacked in al-Jawf were supporters of Shiite Hawthi rebels who have waged an on-and-off uprising against the government. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because of the ongoing investigation.
A spokesman for the Hawthis confirmed the casualties and added that the rebels also suspected al-Qaida in the attack. He spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of government reprisals.
The attack comes two months after al-Qaida accused the Hawthis of nabbing two of its members and handing them over to the security chief of Saada province.
Later in September, al-Qaida announced it kidnapped Saada's deputy security chief, Col. Ali Mohammed Salah, and demanded the government release the two members, Hussein al-Tais and Mashour al-Ahdal. It claimed Salah had confessed to al-Qaida that the two militants were seized by the Hawthis.
Since January 2009, when al-Qaida's battered Saudi and Yemeni branches merged to form Al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula, the terror group has become increasingly emboldened, directing attacks in the capital and across the countryside against officials and foreigners.
Apart from the dominating al-Qaida threat, Yemen's weak central government has also struggled with a separatist movement in the south and the Hawthi rebels in the north. Occasional skirmishes between government troops and the Shiite rebels have raised concerns the six-year-old conflict that nearly turned into a regional war could be reignited.
How Sputnik V works
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Company profile
Company name: Dharma
Date started: 2018
Founders: Charaf El Mansouri, Nisma Benani, Leah Howe
Based: Abu Dhabi
Sector: TravelTech
Funding stage: Pre-series A
Investors: Convivialite Ventures, BY Partners, Shorooq Partners, L& Ventures, Flat6Labs
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IF YOU GO
The flights
FlyDubai flies direct from Dubai to Skopje in five hours from Dh1,314 return including taxes. Hourly buses from Skopje to Ohrid take three hours.
The tours
English-speaking guided tours of Ohrid town and the surrounding area are organised by Cultura 365; these cost €90 (Dh386) for a one-day trip including driver and guide and €100 a day (Dh429) for two people.
The hotels
Villa St Sofija in the old town of Ohrid, twin room from $54 (Dh198) a night.
St Naum Monastery, on the lake 30km south of Ohrid town, has updated its pilgrims' quarters into a modern 3-star hotel, with rooms overlooking the monastery courtyard and lake. Double room from $60 (Dh 220) a night.
