A bomb attack in southern Yemen on Friday killed at least 16 pro-government fighters, marking one of the deadliest assaults claimed by Al-Qaeda in months.
The attack targeted a site of the Southern Transitional Council (STC), a separatist group aligned with the Yemeni government, according to STC spokesperson Mohammed al-Naqib.
An explosive-laden vehicle struck a military post in Abyan province, leaving 16 fighters dead and 18 others wounded. The death toll is expected to rise due to the severity of the injuries.
Al-Qaeda, in a statement monitored by the US-based SITE Intelligence Group, claimed responsibility for the attack, stating that a suicide bomber detonated the vehicle-borne improvised explosive device at the site.
Yemen has been a battleground for Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), which the United States considers the most dangerous offshoot of the Sunni extremist group.
AQAP has a history of targeting Yemeni security forces and Western interests, with its activities peaking in high-profile attacks like the 2015 Charlie Hebdo massacre in Paris. However, in recent years, the company has seen a decline in its international operations.
Despite this, Al-Qaeda remains active in Yemen, with a series of attacks on separatist forces in 2023, including bombings in March and August that killed several STC fighters.
Yemen's conflict, which escalated in 2014 with the Huthi rebels' takeover of the capital, Sanaa, has created a chaotic environment where groups like AQAP have thrived.
The Saudi-led coalition's intervention in 2015 on behalf of the internationally recognized government further complicated the situation, as multiple armed factions, including AQAP and Islamic State, vie for control in the region.
