A pair of bombings carried out by a suicide attacker from ISIS tore through the al-Bilili neighborhood’s Shi’ite mosque, in the Yemeni capital city of Sanaa today, killing at least 29 people and wounding an undisclosed number of others.
The first bombing was of a smaller explosive device hidden in a shoe at the entrance of the mosque, designed to spark a panic. When people crowded to the exit, a suicide bomber, dressed as a woman, detonated a larger amount of explosives he was carrying, causing the bulk of the casualties.
In their statement of responsibility, ISIS said the attack was “revenge” against the Shi’ite Houthis, who control the capital and are presently at war with Saudi invasion forces. This is the latest in a long string of ISIS bombs on the capital, and the second this month alone, after one three weeks ago killed 32 people.
The prayer service that was attacked was the one to mark the beginning of the important Eid al-Adha holiday, meaning the attack this time is even more significant than most, and will likely be much more high profile within Yemen, reflecting the increased operational capabilities of ISIS in Yemen.
Yes, in Yemen, the USA is fighting on the same side as ISIS and Al-Qaida. Continues a tradition begun in Libya and continued in Syria. I guess less of an outcry if an ISIS suicide bomber took out the target rather than a US made smart bomb fired from a US made jet in the Saudi Air Force. Isn't it great that we gave up our Constitution for this Terror War?