By Darrin Simmons
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

SANA’A, Yemen-The heavily guarded defenses ministry compound was attacked by a suicide bomber and gunmen yesterday, resulting in the death of 52 doctors and nurses as well as injuring 162 people.

No one has immediately claimed responsibility for the attack but a Yemeni expert on Islamist militant affairs stated that it had the characteristics of al Qaeda, who have repeatedly attacked government officials and sites over the past two years.

Abdelrazzaq al-Jamal, a Yemeni analyst who specializes in Islamist militant affairs, stated, “the operation carries the fingerprints of al Qaeda because of the suicide nature of the attack.”

The U.S. military issued its alert status throughout the region after the coordinated strikes on Yemen, an ally and what Washington believes to be the home to the most active branch of al Qaeda.

The area poses a security threat for the international community.  The impoverished Yemen shares a long border with Saudi Arabia, the world’s top oil exporter, as well as key shipping lanes.

One of the attackers drove a loaded car with explosives through the gate of the ministry’s compound while a gunmen in another vehicle sped in and opened fire on soldiers, doctors, and nurses all working at hospital inside, reported witnesses.

The explosion rippled throughout the city, shaking the active neighborhood of Bab al-Yemen on the edge of the capital.  The area is known for its maze of market stalls and stone towers that are decorated with stained glass windows and ornate plasterwork.

One employee working the area reported that “the explosion was very violent, the whole place shook because of it.”

A defense ministry official reported that the gunmen grabbed a Western doctor and a Filipino nurse into the courtyard of the hospital and shot them in front of local staff.  It was also reported that the attackers killed one of Yemeni President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi’s relatives, who was visiting a patient in the onsite hospital.

The bloodshed ceased when security forces retook the compound after killing most all of the attackers.

For more information, please see the following:

New York Times-Attack on Yemen’s Defense Headquarters Is Linked to Al Qaeda-06 December 2013

Al Jazeera-Doctors killed in Yemen’s ministry assault-05 December 2013

Reuters-Suicide bomber, gunmen kill 52 at Yemeni defense ministry-05 December 2013

Voice of America-Yemen: Suicide Car Bomb, Assault Kill 52-05 December 2013