Abyan (South24) – A suicide car bomb attack targeted a military site of the Southern Forces' 3rd Back and Support Brigade in the Mudiya district of Abyan province on Friday morning, killing 16 soldiers and injuring at least 17 others, according to military and security sources speaking to South24 Center.

The sources confirmed that the attack occurred at 07:05 AM Aden time when the explosive-laden vehicle detonated near Al-Fareedh School, igniting a fire in one of the rear buildings of the brigade's site.

The Southern Forces have accused elements of the terrorist group AQAP of orchestrating the attack, describing it as a suicide bombing.

Hours after the attack, Al-Qaeda claimed responsibility for the terrorist operation. The organization described the operation in images published by its affiliated media as a 'martyrdom' [suicide] attack

A military source from the Southern Forces stated, "The terrorist bombing targeted a military barracks of the 3rd  Back and Support Brigade, resulting in the martyrdom of several soldiers and injuries to others." He added that "Our forces deployed in the surrounding area after the explosion, and the evacuation of the wounded to nearby hospitals is ongoing."

This attack is one of the most severe terrorist incidents the region has witnessed recently, occurring amid an escalation of terrorist activities targeting Southern Forces in South Yemen.

The Southern Forces, including the 3rd Brigade, are leading Operation “Arrows of the East” to combat terrorism in Abyan province since August 23, 2022, aimed at rooting out al-Qaeda strongholds.

Southern Forces have killed several key al-Qaeda leaders and cleared large areas of the province from the group's elements.

The spokesperson for the Southern Armed Forces described the terrorist attack in Abyan as a direct consequence of heightened political tensions and incitement against both the forces and the STC.

Speaking on AIC TV, Mohammed al-Naqeeb revealed that the suicide bomber's vehicle was loaded with hundreds of kilograms of explosives.

Al-Naqeeb also pointed fingers at certain "media outlets" and "political mony" for deliberately fueling insecurity and instability in South.

He highlighted that this attack coincides with the second anniversary of the "Arrows of the East" operation and reaffirmed the Southern forces' commitment to "rooting out terrorism."

Since May 2023, AQAP has increasingly used drones in its attacks against Southern military forces in the Abyan and Shabwa provinces.

The American Conflict Analysis Project (ACLED) reported that al-Qaeda's drone attacks in South Yemen appear to have been facilitated by training and logistical support from the Houthis.

In recent weeks, the Sultanate of Oman expelled approximately 28 Yemeni nationals who were previously detained at the notorious U.S. Guantanamo Bay prison and were resettled in Oman between 2015 and 2017.

The Forever-wars website reported that Omani officials informed the detainees that the U.S. administration had given the green light for their expulsion.

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