More trouble is arising in Yemen, as a triple suicide bombings rock the foundation of two mosques in the capital of San’a. The mosques were home to supporters of the Houthi Rebel movement, a group that has controlled the contested land of San’a since September, according to the BBC. Although reports vary, over 137 have been found dead, and another 300 have been wounded in the attacks.
The Houthis are Shiite rebels who are sworn enemies of Yemen’s most powerful Al-Qaida branch, a group that Washington has dubbed as the most dangerous and active Al-Qaida affiliate. Supporters of the Al-Qaida related group were active on Twitter following the attacks, praising the immediate carnage from the bombings.
The attacks were broadcasted on a Yemeni television network owned by the Houthi Rebels, which noted that the death toll had increased, making this attack the most deadly to hit the conflict torn country. The bombings were the result of a conflict that has been increasing in violence in the past 48 hours.
If the claims by the television network are correct, the attacks would be the first from the Al-Qaida affiliated Islamic State group, who has taken up territories in Iraq and Syria, and who is the target of a US-led coalition of countries carrying out airstrikes to stop its spread.
The two attacks were centered on the two mosques, the Al Badr, and the Al Hadoosh, where Houthi Muslims were gathered for midday prayers. Sunni worshippers frequented the mosque for worship as well, in addition to the followers of the Zaidi sect of Shiite Islam. Among the 137 dead, a top respected Houthi leader, Murtatha Al Mahathwari, was declared deceased by medical personal following the attacks. There has been a push by hospitals for citizens to donate blood to the influx of patients.
In addition to the attacks on the mosques, there was a separate fourth bombing on a government stronghold, also controlled by the Houthis, where the group’s leader, Abdul Malik Al Houthi, was known to be based at. In that attack, another two were killed, and a third person in critical condition.
On Twitter following the attacks, the Islamic State group responsible for the attack claimed that this was “the tip of the ice berg” and more violence would be coming to the Houthi movement.
The group has been spreading its influence to other countries lately. This is the same group that a separate smaller sect, which was responsible for the 21 Coptic Christian beheadings, had pledged allegiance to.
In light of the conflict, as many as a dozen countries, including the U.S, have closed their embassies.
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