Yemen Coalition air strikes in Sanaa after devastating Aden attack

Yemen’s new unity government vows to press ahead to bring stability to the war-torn country

The Saudi-led Coalition in Yemen carried out air strikes on Houthi rebel targets around the capital of Sanaa on Thursday in response to a deadly attack on Aden airport that killed at least 26 people.

Reports suggested that more than 15 sites around the Iran-backed rebel-controlled capital had been hit on Thursday. Witnesses told Reuters news agency that sites included the capital's airport. There was no information on casualties from the strikes.

The raids came in response to an attack on Aden airport on Wednesday as the country’s new unity government landed for their first meeting.

Glass and debris covers the damaged portion of the airport in Yemen’s southern city of Aden after an explosion. The blast struck the airport building shortly after a plane carrying the newly formed Cabinet landed on Wednesday. No one on the government plane was hurt. AP

Glass and debris covers the damaged portion of the airport in Yemen’s southern city of Aden after an explosion. The blast struck the airport building shortly after a plane carrying the newly formed Cabinet landed on Wednesday. No one on the government plane was hurt. AP

Bystanders and a soldier stand near a damaged portion of the airport of Yemen’s southern city of Aden’s after an explosion, Wednesday, Dec. 30, 2020. The blast struck the airport building shortly after a plane carrying the newly formed Cabinet landed on Wednesday. No one on the government plane was hurt. (AP Photo/Majid Saleh)

People run after an explosion at the airport in Aden, Yemen, shortly after a plane carrying the newly formed Cabinet landed. No one on board the government plane was hurt but initial reports said several people at the airport were killed. AP

A video grab shows the moment an ordnance hit the Aden Airport, shortly after the arrival of a plane carrying members of a new unity government. Explosions rocked Yemen's Aden airport on Wednesday shortly after the arrival of a plane carrying members of a new unity government, an AFP correspondent at the scene said. "At least two explosions were heard as the cabinet members were leaving the aircraft," the correspondent said. Yemen's internationally recognised government and southern separatists formed a new power-sharing cabinet on December 18, and arrived in the southern city of Aden on Wednesday, days after being sworn in Saudi Arabia. AFP

A security personnel member reacts as dust rises after explosions hit Aden airport, upon the arrival of the newly-formed Yemeni government in Aden, Yemen. REUTERS

A video grab shows the moment an ordnance hit the Aden Airport, shortly after the arrival of a plane carrying members of a new unity government. Explosions rocked Yemen's Aden airport on Wednesday shortly after the arrival of a plane carrying members of a new unity government, an AFP correspondent at the scene said. "At least two explosions were heard as the cabinet members were leaving the aircraft," the correspondent said. Yemen's internationally recognised government and southern separatists formed a new power-sharing cabinet on December 18, and arrived in the southern city of Aden on Wednesday, days after being sworn in Saudi Arabia. AFP

People react as dust rises after explosions hit Aden airport, upon the arrival of the newly-formed Yemeni government in Aden, Yemen. REUTERS

People walk on the tarmac as dust and smoke rise after explosions hit Aden airport, upon the arrival of the newly-formed Yemeni government in Aden, Yemen. REUTERS

People react as dust rises after explosions hit Aden airport, upon the arrival of the newly-formed Yemeni government in Aden, Yemen. REUTERS

People wait to greet members a newly formed cabinet for government-held parts of Yemen upon their arrival at Aden airport, before an attack on the airport, in Aden, Yemen. REUTERS

Yemenis welcome members of the new unity government at the Aden Airport, before explosions rocked the Yemeni airport. Explosions rocked Yemen's Aden airport on Wednesday shortly after the arrival of a plane carrying members of a new unity government, an AFP correspondent at the scene said. "At least two explosions were heard as the cabinet members were leaving the aircraft," the correspondent said. Yemen's internationally recognised government and southern separatists formed a new power-sharing cabinet on December 18, and arrived in the southern city of Aden on Wednesday, days after being sworn in Saudi Arabia. AFP

People walk away from a plane that carried a newly formed cabinet for government-held parts of Yemen, after an attack at Aden airport shortly after the plane's arrival, in Aden, Yemen. REUTERS

People wait to greet members a newly formed cabinet for government-held parts of Yemen upon their arrival at Aden airport, before an attack on the airport, in Aden, Yemen. REUTERS

Hours later, the coalition intercepted an explosive-laden drone that was aimed at Mashiq Palace in Aden where ministers and officials rushed after the airport attack.

The coalition said the second attack confirmed that the operation had been carried out by the Houthi rebels who fire such explosive drones at sites in Yemen and at Saudi Arabia on a near-weekly basis.

The ministers arriving in Yemen on Wednesday were from a new cabinet formed on December 18 in the Saudi capital of Riyadh where President Abdrabu Mansur Hadi resides. The new Cabinet is the result of a political deal brokered by the kingdom and includes members of the Southern Transitional Council and the internationally recognised Yemeni government.

Foreign Minister Ahmed bin Mubarak said the government "is determined to fulfil its duty and work to restore stability in Yemen”.

"This terrorist attack will not deter it from that," he said,.

Mr bin Mubarak also blamed the Houthi rebels for the blasts he said were rocket attacks.

"Information and preliminary investigations show that the Huthi militia was behind this ugly terrorist attack," Mr Bin Mubarak told AFP. The missiles were launched from rebel-held areas, he said.

President Hadi tasked the interior minister with leading an investigation as Yemeni Prime Minister Maeen Abdulmalik ordered compensation to be paid swiftly to the families of the victims of Wednesday's attacks.

All ministers were uninjured and most of the casualties were airport staff and civilians. However, Yemen's undersecretary at the Public Works Ministry was reportedly killed in the attack.

The International Committee of the Red Cross said three staff members were among the dead.

"This is a tragic day for the ICRC and for the people of Yemen," said Dominik Stillhart, ICRC's director of operations. "The Yemeni people have endured a terrible amount of suffering over the last five years. A day like this adds even more grief both for the Red Cross family and for the Yemeni families who had loved ones killed or injured in this explosion."

The organisation did not name staff members but said that one was a Yemeni national who helped co-ordinate transport for the ICRC – including the recent return home of over 1,000 former detainees released in a prisoner swap. The second was also a Yemeni national who worked in an ICRC-supported hospital and was pursuing his PhD in medicine. The third was a Rwandan national working as an x-ray technician with ICRC medical teams.

The National's Ali Mahmood was wounded in the explosion. He was treated at a nearby hospital before being released to recover at home.

Maged Al Madhaji of the Sanaa Centre for Strategic Studies said Wednesday's incident was the most significant in the Yemen war.

"The explosions could have destroyed everything. They could have wiped out the entire legitimate government completely," he told AFP.

For Bassem Al Qadi, who lost his cousin in the explosions, the government is the "last thread of hope" for "exhausted" Yemenis.

"People want to live, and they have become tired of death, destruction and terror," he said.

International reactions condemning the incident continued to pour in on Thursday.

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