New Yemeni government under attack at Aden airport

The new Yemeni government that emerged from the Riyadh agreements was landing in the coastal city of Aden, where the country's temporary capital has been established, when several explosions have taken place at the airport. According to initial reports, at least two of the explosions are said to have taken place at the airport. The first was in the room where the reception with the press was to take place and the second in an area where Yemeni security forces were present.

The Yemeni authorities are said not to have left the plane at the time of the explosions, which allowed the security forces to evacuate the plane after the first moments of confusion. Sources at the airport say that no members of the cabinet were reportedly injured, but that they would have been among the rest of the people present, both journalists and military personnel.

The number of dead and wounded is unknown for the time being, although it is warned that there would be victims among the officials and members of the media who were at the sites of the explosions. Nor is the origin of the explosions clear, but there is talk of the possibility of a missile attack, something the Hutus would have carried out previously.

The government was due to be received by local authorities and military officials following its arrival from Riyadh, in what would be a symbolic act of a new beginning for the country, even though the rebels have yet to be dealt with. To this end it continues to enjoy the support of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. 

In view of the Muslim Brothers' threat to boycott this agreement signed a year ago, which has now been put into effect with this new cabinet, a huge security operation had been deployed in the city, which did not, however, prevent the attack on the airport. All eyes are on the Brotherhood as responsible for this attack.

This new government was announced by the country's president, Abd Rabu Mansour al-Hadi, a few weeks ago and includes members of the Southern Transition Council (SCT), a separatist organisation which emerged in 2017. However, the SCT also fights against the Hutu rebels, who control the Yemeni capital and are supported by Iran, Qatar and Turkey in their attempts to extend their influence in the Gulf.