Sana’a: At least 15 soldiers, including an officer, were killed and three injured on Friday afternoon when unidentified assailants attacked a military post in the southeastern province of Hadramout, two local senior security officials told Gulf News.
One of the officials said that the attackers opened fire at the soldiers who were leaving their praying area to have their lunch near the historical mud-built city of Shibam. The official said that some of the attackers were also injured in the ensuing gun battle.
“The attack was likely carried by Al Qaida,” said the official who wanted to be anonymous. Local social media users posted graphic photos of badly injured solders receiving treatment in a local hospital.
The government mostly blames Al Qaida’s affiliates attacks that target military and security posts across the country.
The oil-rich province of Hadramout is in turmoil since early December when army soldiers killed a prominent tribal leader. Local tribesmen engaged in sporadic armed clashes with soldiers.
