Car bomb in Yemen kills 3 and is said to target a leader with Saudi-backed group

A deadly car bombing struck a military convoy in southern Yemen on Wednesday, killing three people in what appears to be a targeted assassination attempt against a prominent Saudi-backed commander, according to witnesses and security officials.

The explosion targeted Hamdy Shoukry, a senior leader of the Giants Brigades, as his motorcade traveled north of Aden. While Shoukry survived the attack, six others in the convoy sustained injuries, according to eyewitnesses Thabet al-Azab and Khaled al-Sebeihy who spoke to reporters at the scene.

Ahmed Khalil, a nurse at Ibn Khaldoun Hospital, confirmed that at least three bodies were brought to the facility following the bombing. A security official, speaking on condition of anonymity due to not being authorized to brief media, verified that the attack directly impacted Shoukry’s convoy.

No group has claimed responsibility for the bombing as of Wednesday evening, adding to the complex web of violence plaguing the war-torn country.

The U.S. Embassy in Yemen quickly condemned what it called an “unprovoked attack against a Yemeni government-affiliated military convoy” in a statement released on social media platforms.

The attack highlights the continuing instability in Yemen, where the Giants Brigades have recently been working alongside Saudi-backed National Shield forces to reclaim territories in the south. These areas were seized by Emirati-backed separatists during a territorial offensive in December, further complicating the country’s fractured political landscape.

Yemen’s civil war, now in its second decade, has evolved into one of the world’s most severe humanitarian crises. What began as a conflict between the internationally recognized government and Houthi rebels has splintered into multiple fronts involving regional powers with competing interests.

The Giants Brigades, a significant military force in southern Yemen, have received substantial support from Saudi Arabia as part of the Kingdom’s broader strategy to counter Houthi influence. The group has been instrumental in several military campaigns throughout southern Yemen in recent years.

The targeting of senior military figures has become increasingly common in Yemen’s protracted conflict. Assassination attempts often aim to disrupt military command structures and destabilize fragile alliances between Yemen’s numerous armed factions.

Wednesday’s attack occurs against a backdrop of shifting alliances and territorial control in southern Yemen. The region has witnessed increased tensions between Saudi and Emirati-backed forces, despite both Gulf nations being nominal allies in the broader coalition fighting against Houthi rebels who control much of Yemen’s north, including the capital Sanaa.

Security experts monitoring the situation note that the frequency of such attacks has increased in recent months, potentially signaling a new phase in the conflict where targeted killings become a predominant tactic among warring factions.

The bombing also underscores the challenges facing international peace efforts in Yemen. Despite numerous attempted ceasefires and peace negotiations, sustainable progress remains elusive as various armed groups continue to pursue military advantages on the ground.

For civilians caught in the crossfire, the ongoing violence continues to exacerbate already dire living conditions. The UN estimates that over 21 million Yemenis require humanitarian assistance, with millions facing food insecurity and limited access to healthcare.

As investigations into the attack continue, security forces have reportedly increased checkpoints and patrols around Aden, the temporary capital of the internationally recognized government, in anticipation of potential follow-up attacks.