On January 5th, three senior southern Yemeni officials survived a suicide car bomb attack. This was followed by a gun battle, which resulted in the death of three guards in Aden. This port city has been declared as a temporary capital with an increasing jihadist presence of Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), as the main militant group being strongly opposed by the Islamic State.

The governor of Aden, Aidaroos al-Zubairi, and governor of Lahj province were traveling in a convoy with the Aden security director when a suicide car bomb was detonated. Governor al-Zubairi was recently appointed governor after a car bomb attack by the Islamic State killed his predecessor on December 6.

This assassination attempt comes after al-Zubairi’s crackdown on extremist groups and suspected militants. Islamic State has stepped up operations since the beginning of the Yemeni Civil War. This resulted in security officials imposing curfews that led to the arrest of at least 70 suspects, including a local Al-Qaeda leader.

They have also recently taken back the strategic Red Sea port from militia groups, along with four other southern provinces. Police chief of Ade, General Shallal Ali Shayae, said “we will work on forcing the armed groups out of government buildings. We will cleanse all neighbourhoods from terrorists.” The Yemeni government has been receiving arms support from a Saudi-led coalition.

Peace talks held in Switzerland in December did not have a positive outcome after a violation of a ceasefire.

To read more, visit:

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-yemen-security-attack-idUSKBN0UJ1GH20160105
http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/world/southern-yemeni-officials-survive-car-bomb-attack-in-aden/179661.html
http://www.startribune.com/governor-of-yemen-s-aden-survives-car-bomb-that-kills-2/364229121/
http://www.arabnews.com/news/860826