Suicide bomber targets Ambassador

A suicide attacker drove a car laden with explosives at the
Iranian ambassador’s residence in the Yemeni capital
Sanaa, security officials said, killing as many as three
people.
Ambassador Hasan Nam Wadi was not harmed when the
attack took place in the diplomatic district of Hada,
officials said.
The Wednesday morning blast also heavily damaged
several buildings in the area.
Interior ministry said that one of the embassy guards and
two transpassers, a woman and a child, were killed in the
attack, adding that four were injured, one in critical
condition.
Shia Muslim Houthi rebels close to Iran took control of
Sanaa in September and fanned out across the country,
clashing with Sunni tribesmen and also with Yemen’s local
branch of al-Qaeda.
Hakim al-Masmari, the editor-in-chief for the Yemen
Post newspaper, told Al Jazeera that no one has claimed
responsibility yet for the incident.
“It is probable that it was al-Qaeda behind the attack as
the group often targets Yemeni state targets as well as
Houthi rebels and Shias,” he said.
“This is first of many expected attacks that al-Qaeda has
been threatening against Houthi and Shia targets as
Houthi offensive against al-Qaeda back tribesmen
continue,” he added
“This shows how tense the situation in Yemenis. Iran is
seen as the one of the main backers of Houthis in Yemen.”
The US and Yemen’s Sunni Gulf neighbours suspect Iran
is meddling in the impoverished state and there are fears of
sectarian warfare spreading to other countries of the
region. Iran denies interfering in Yemeni affairs.
Iranian diplomats have been targeted in Yemen in the past.
One Iranian diplomat is still being held hostage by
suspected fighters and another was killed this year when he
resisted a kidnapping attempt.