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Yemen’s Defense Ministry Is Attacked on 2 Fronts Assault on Yemeni Defense Ministry Compound Kills 52
(about 7 hours later)
SANA, Yemen — Assailants carried out a two-pronged attack on Yemen’s heavily guarded Defense Ministry headquarters in the center of the capital, Sana, on Thursday, ramming a car packed with explosives into one part of the complex as attackers on foot opened fire with automatic rifles on another, witnesses said. SANA, Yemen — Assailants widely suspected of being members of Al Qaeda carried out a two-pronged attack on Yemen’s heavily guarded Defense Ministry headquarters here on Thursday, blowing open an entrance to the compound with a car full of explosives and gunning down civilians at a hospital inside, witnesses said.
News reports quoting Defense Ministry officials said 20 people had been killed, including militants and Yemeni soldiers, and dozens wounded. But other accounts put the death toll higher. Several foreign medical workers were also reported to be among the dead after the attackers stormed into a hospital within the complex. The attack killed 52 people, including soldiers, doctors, patients and a number of foreigners. More than 160 others were wounded.
The attack illustrated the frail state of security in Yemen, a troubled and impoverished country that is in the middle of a difficult political transition as the authorities struggle with militants, rebels and secessionists. The daylight assault on one of the government’s most important security facilities appeared to mark a new low in Yemen’s descent into chaos and instability since its longtime president, Ali Abdullah Saleh, was forced from power after a popular uprising in 2011.
Yemen is known as the home of one of Al Qaeda’s most organized and threatening affiliates, whose operatives are the targets of an American drone campaign to kill militants suspected of involvement in kidnapping for ransom and a string of deadly attacks on military targets. The Qaeda affiliate in Yemen has also tried to plant bombs on United States-bound jetliners. While the United Nations is trying to shepherd the country through a rocky political transition, many of the figures that have long dominated its political and economic life have much to lose if overhauls succeed in limiting their power. This has left members of the old guard, prominent military figures and tribal leaders struggling to maintain their influence. The weakening of state control has exacerbated Yemen’s perennial problems: rebel movements that want to divide the country, extreme poverty and militancy.
Yemeni officials say that Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, as the affiliate is called, has infiltrated the country’s security services, and there were reports that the attackers on Thursday wore military uniforms. Yemen is home to one of Al Qaeda’s most organized and threatening affiliates, whose operatives have been the targets of an American drone campaign to kill militants suspected of involvement in kidnapping for ransom and a string of deadly attacks on military targets. The Qaeda affiliate in Yemen has also tried to plant bombs on jetliners bound for the United States.
The attack was among the most brazen since May 2012, when a suicide bomber disguised as a soldier detonated explosives during a military parade rehearsal near the presidential palace, leaving hundreds dead and wounded. Yemeni officials say that Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, as the affiliate is known, has infiltrated the country’s security services, and witnesses said that attackers on Thursday wore military uniforms.
The blast on Thursday was heard across Sana. Gunfire rang out after the car exploded, sending plumes of smoke into the air. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack, which some analysts said showed the hallmarks of Al Qaeda. The blast on Thursday was heard across Sana. Gunfire rang out after the car exploded, sending plumes of smoke into the air. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack, which analysts said showed the hallmarks of Al Qaeda.
The attack was apparently timed to coincide with the changing of the guard at the complex, when gates are opened to allow soldiers to enter and leave. Yemeni special forces in armored vehicles surrounded the building, fighting gun battles with about a dozen assailants. The attack was apparently timed to coincide with the changing of the guard at the complex, when gates are opened to allow soldiers to enter and leave. Yemeni special forces in armored vehicles surrounded the building, fighting gun battles into the night against about a dozen assailants.
In September, at least 21 government soldiers were killed by militants suspected of belonging to Al Qaeda in attacks on two military targets in the south of Yemen. The attack was Yemen’s deadliest since May of last year, when a suicide bomber disguised as a soldier detonated explosives during a military parade rehearsal near the presidential palace, leaving hundreds dead or wounded.
Al Qaeda is not the only source of unrest. The government is facing secessionists in the south and Shiite Muslim rebels in the north. Since the former president, Ali Abdullah Saleh, was forced from office in 2011 by popular protests, the country has been run by an interim government ahead of elections expected next year. In September, militants suspected of belonging to Al Qaeda killed at least 21 government soldiers in attacks on two military targets in the south of Yemen.

Nasser Arrabyee reported from Sana, and Alan Cowell from London.

In the last two years, more than 150 intelligence and security officials have been killed across the country, many of them gunned down in drive-by shootings.
Al Qaeda is not the only source of unrest. The government is facing secessionists in the south and Shiite rebels in the north. Since Mr. Saleh left office in 2011, an interim government has run the country ahead of elections expected next year.

Nasser Arrabyee reported from Sana, and Ben Hubbard from Beirut, Lebanon. Alan Cowell contributed reporting from London.