Al-Khader Laswar, the director general of Yemen’s Health Ministry in Aden, told Reuters that at least another 67 people were injured in the attack, which targeted a school compound where conscripts loyal to the government had gathered for breakfast.
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No one has claimed responsibility for the attack, but it resembled previous suicide bombings in the city which Islamic State said it carried out.
The assault killed at least 60 people and wounded about 30 others, medical sources from three hospitals where victims were taken told reporters.
A massive suicide vehicle bombing in the southern Yemeni city of Aden has killed at least 71 people, with the death toll continuing to rise, marking the single deadliest attack in the country, Saudi airstrikes notwithstanding, in over a year.
The explosion reportedly occurred around 8:15 a.m. local time while recruits were waiting in line to be enrolled among troops heading to battle at the Saudi-Yemeni border, officials said.
Although the complex was locked as recruits registered inside, the attacker drove in when the gate was opened for a delivery vehicle, officials say.
Debris was scattered around the complex and nearby buildings were damaged.
Attacks in the port city are often claimed by militants from either al-Qaeda or the Islamic State, which have both taken advantage of the chaos in Yemen to make gains in southern and southeastern regions.
The claim came in a short statement posted on Twitter by the group’s semi-official Amaq news agency.
Daesh claimed the attack, via its media outlet Aamaq Agency.
Yemeni authorities have trained hundreds of soldiers in Aden over the past two months as part of operations to retake neighbouring southern provinces from fighters.
Saudi Arabia is leading an Arab coalition that is backing the internationally recognized government of President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi and carrying out airstrikes against the Shiite rebels, whom it says are backed by Iran.
Troops retook other towns across Abyan but have been met by fierce resistance in key Al-Qaeda stronghold, Al-Mahfid, a town which lies further east, security sources said.
The Saudi-led coalition intervened in Yemen in March previous year and have helped government forces push the rebels out of Aden and four other southern provinces since July 2015.
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An estimated 3,500 civilians have been killed in the fighting during the past 18 months and about 3 million people have been displaced, according to the United Nations and aid groups. This news story is related to Print/146336-IS-bomber-kills-71-army-recruits-in-Yemen/ – breaking news, latest news, pakistan ne.
