2020 Aden airport attack

At a glance

Dates: From 2020-12-30.

Place: Aden International Airport, Yemen.

Type: bomb attack and mass shooting.

Deaths reported: 25. Casualties: 110.

What came before

Part of: Yemeni Civil War.

Background In order to deal with the infighting between the Yemeni government forces and those of the secessionist Southern Transitional Council , a new cabinet was formed with the backing of neighbouring Saudi Arabia . [ 1 ] [ 2 ] The formation of the new unity government, which includes equal numbers of representatives from each region of Yemen's northern and southern areas, was the result of over a year's worth of intense negotiations mediated by the Saudis,

What happened

Attacks External videos Attack as seen from near the plane [ 1 ] On 30 December 2020 , a Yemenia plane flew from Saudi Arabia to the port city of Aden in southwestern Yemen, carrying members of the newly formed Yemeni government, including the prime minister, as well as the Saudi ambassador to Yemen . [ 2 ] [ 3 ] [ a ] The airport hall was crowded with local officials as well as civilians hoping to greet the members of the new cabinet. [ 6 ]

Casualties At least 28 people were killed and 107 others were injured, with at least 30 wounded seriously enough to require major surgery. [ 1 ] [ 2 ] [ 3 ] [ a ] The casualties included aid workers and journalists, as well as government officials and members of the military. [ 5 ] [ 6 ] [ 7 ] [ 8 ] Three members of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) were killed, including two Yemenis and one Rwandan ; three others were wounded,

Aftermath Yemen's Foreign Minister Ahmad Awad bin Mubarak initially blamed the Houthis for the attack, and stated that four ballistic missiles had been fired at the airport, but made the statement without providing evidence. [ 1 ] [ 2 ] The Houthis denied responsibility, with its deputy information secretary placing the blame on the continued infighting between the government and the Southern Transitional Council, and naming the latter as the party most likely to have carried out the attack. [

Investigations Local investigation President Hadi has directed Interior Minister Ibrahim Haydan to head a committee to investigate the attack, with support from the military. [ 1 ] [ 2 ] [ 3 ] Prime Minister Saeed later announced that "[p]reliminary results of the investigation ... show that Houthi militants were behind the attack" which was carried out by guided missiles, and that Iranian experts had also been involved. [ 2 ] [ 1 ] [ 4 ] [ 5 ]