An ISIS bombing carried out today outside of the presidential palace in the southern Yemeni port of Aden has killed at least 11 people and injured several others. Two children were among the slain, according to preliminary reports.
A Yemeni general was reported to be among the wounded, though Abd Rabbu Mansour Hadi, the president of the pro-Saudi south, was apparently present at the time, he escaped the attack without any injury, and withdrew to an undisclosed location.
The ISIS statement claiming responsibility identified the bomber as Abu Hanifa al-Hollandi, leading to the conclusion that he is initially from the Netherlands. If confirmed, this would be one of the first foreign fighters reported to be involved in ISIS’ Yemen affiliate.
ISIS in Yemen has launched a number of bombing attacks against both the pro-Saudi south and the Shi’ite-dominated north, and while the group’s size is still not wholly clear, it is believed to be trying to compete with al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) for the role of main Islamist group in Yemen.