60 killed in IS attack on Yemen army camp

Aden, August 29 

A suicide car bombing claimed by the Islamic State group killed at least 60 persons today at an army recruitment centre in Aden, in the latest jihadist attack to hit the Yemeni city.

Aden is the temporary base of Yemen's internationally recognised government, which has been battling Iran-backed rebels as well as jihadists across the country for more than a year.

Security officials told AFP that the attacker drove an explosives-laden vehicle into a gathering of army recruits at a school in northern Aden early Monday.

Although the school was locked as recruits registered inside, the attacker drove in when the gate was opened for a delivery vehicle, officials said.

Witnesses said some recruits were buried when a roof collapsed over them following the blast, which also damaged buildings close to the centre.

The assault killed at least 60 persons and wounded 29 others, medical sources from the three hospitals where the victims were taken told AFP. They could not immediately verify if all those killed were recruits.

Aden has seen a wave of bombings and shootings targeting officials and security forces. Attacks in the port city are often claimed by jihadists from either Al-Qaida or IS, who have both taken advantage of the chaos in Yemen to make gains in southern and southeastern regions.

IS claimed today's bombing on its official propaganda outlet, Amaq, saying the blast had killed around 60 people.

Yemeni authorities have trained hundreds of soldiers in Aden over the past two months as part of operations to retake neighbouring southern provinces from jihadists.

Earlier this month, Yemeni government forces backed by a Saudi-led coalition entered Abyan's provincial capital Zinjibar.

Troops retook other towns across Abyan but have been met by fierce resistance in the key Al-Qaida stronghold of Al-Mahfid.

The militants are still present in areas surrounding the recaptured towns and control large parts of the neighbouring Shabwa province, the sources say.

The Arab coalition battling Iran-backed rebels in Yemen has also been providing troops with air cover throughout their war against the jihadists. — AFP