At least 22 people were killed and dozens injured in an attack at Aden airport on Wednesday. Moments after the plane landed with the Saudi-backed cabinet, it flew into government-controlled areas Yemen.
Prime Minister Maine Abdul Malik said all cabinet members were excellent. The attack underscores the difficulties faced by the Saudi government, which plans to unite the two allies in the war against the Houthi movement, which has formed an alliance with Iran.
Hours after the attack, a second blast was heard around Aden’s Mashek presidential palace, where residents and local media reported that members of the cabinet, including Maine and Saudi Ambassador to Yemen Mohammed Saeed al – Jaber, had been abducted.
Witnesses said they heard loud explosions and gunfire shortly after the plane landed in Riyadh during the attack on the airport. Three mortar shells fell on the airport lounge, local security sources said.
The cabinet released the death toll on Twitter, quoting the home minister as saying 50 people had been injured.
He did not immediately claim responsibility for the attack.
The Saudi-led coalition has said it has abandoned a Houthi drone carrying explosives aimed at the presidential palace.
The new cabinet is uniting the government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi with separatists from the south to achieve the Saudi goal of ending hostilities between Riyadh’s allies.
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