Initial indicators show Houthi responsibility for Aden attack, says PM

ADEN – SABA
The initial indicators of Wednesday afternoon’s deadly attack on Aden International Airport show the responsibility of the Houthi rebel militia, Yemen’s Prime Minister said.

Chairing the first cabinet meeting in the temporary port city after he and his government returned from Riyadh, Maeen Abdulmalik, said the attack was carried out with “guided missiles” and military information at hand show Iranian experts were involved in the operation.

The missiles struck right after the plane carrying the government home landed in the airport, but missed the government members and caused dozens of civilian casualties including journalists, ICRC employees and ordinary passengers.

The prime minister said the terror attack is “a clear message from the Houthi militia to the Yemeni people and the international community that they (the militia) are mere tools in Iran’s hands, and that they are serious in seeking peace.”

“This shocking, terrorist attack on a civilian airport and those gruesome pictures of the slain civilians including the International Red Cross officials and journalists show very clearly the nature of this militia and its criminal acts,” he said.

The cabinet stood in a moment of silence to mourn the souls of the dead, and vowed to resume their duties in Aden serving the Yemeni people and fulfilling its aspirations of restoring the state from the militants no matter the dangers.