2012 Unity Day parade rehearsal bombing

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Unity Day parade rehearsal bombing
Part of the Yemeni Crisis (2011–present)
Location Sana'a, Yemen
Date21 May 2012 (2012-05-21)
09:00 AST (UTC+03:00)
Target Yemeni Army soldiers
Attack type
Suicide bombing
Deaths101 [1] -120+ [2]
Injured220 [1] -350 [3]
Perpetrator Ansar al-Sharia

On 21 May 2012, a suicide attack was launched against Yemeni Army soldiers practicing for the annual Unity Day military parade in Sanaa, Yemen. The ceremony is carried out every year on 22 May since 1990 to mark the unification of North Yemen and South Yemen as the Republic of Yemen. [3] Responsibility for the attack was claimed by the Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) affiliate Ansar al-Sharia.

Contents

Background

The suicide bombing came 10 days into an army offensive against al-Qaeda in Yemen's restive southern Abyan province, where the AQAP (Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula) have seized control of a string of towns and cities in attacks launched since May 2011. [4] According to witnesses and Yemeni officials, the Yemeni government had intensified its offensive against Al Qaeda in southern Yemen in the week prior to the attack with combined air and ground assaults leaving dozens of casualties, among them civilians. [5] It also follows suspected U.S. drone bombings in Yemen, which AQAP said the attack was in retaliation for and, at the same time, AQAP have used instability over the 2011-2012 Yemeni uprising to take control of swathes of southern Yemen.

Attack

The attack took place in al-Sabin Square, near Yemen's presidential palace, as soldiers were arranging themselves in a parade rehearsal for the upcoming Unity Day ceremonies. [6] According to Yemeni security officials, the bomber was a rogue soldier participating in the drill wearing a belt of explosives. Early reports suggested a few dozen casualties, but by the early afternoon the confirmed death toll was at 90, with at least 222 injured. [3] Security officials stated that the attacker had detonated his explosives shortly before Defence Minister Muhammad Nasir Ahmad Ali and the army chief-of-staff[ who? ] were expected to greet the troops. [3] The attack resulted in "horrific carnage", with one witness describing "arms and legs scattered on the ground ... The wounded people were piled on top of each other, covered with blood." [5] Another soldier who had been present for the attack called it a "massacre", stating "I have never seen such a bloody day in my life". [7] Al-Arabiya reported on 96 dead and over 300 injured in the blast. [4] Later in the day the casualty toll was raised yet again, this time to over 120 killed and nearly 350 injured, some of them critically. [2]

A doctor at a Sana'a hospital described the city's medical facilities as overwhelmed, and stated that the attack had left dozens paralyzed. [8] Most of the casualties appeared to be from the Central Security Organisation – a large paramilitary force commanded by Yahya Saleh, a nephew of former President Ali Abdullah Saleh. Within hours of the attack, Saleh was dismissed from his post by presidential decree. [3]

Perpetrators

Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula's-affiliate Ansar al-Sharia claimed responsibility for the attack a few hours after it had taken place. A spokesman for the group said it was in retaliation for injustices done by the CSO: "We will take revenge, God willing, and the flames of war will reach you everywhere, and what happened is but the start of a jihad project in defence of honour and sanctities." It also added that there would be more attacks if the government assault did not stop in Abyan. [9]

Reactions

President Abdrabu Mansur Hadi stated that the attackers "wanted to turn the joy of our people with the unity day into sorrow ... and therefore, the war on terrorism will continue till it is uprooted and defeated completely whatever the sacrifices are". State-run Saba News Agency condemned the bombing as a terrorist attack, showing "a moral and religious perversion of the attackers and plotters". [7]

United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon condemned the attack and called for those involved to be brought to justice. He also urged the people of Yemen to fully implement the negotiated political transition that had replaced the administration of President Saleh with that of Hadi following the 2011–2012 Yemeni revolution. [6]

The U.K. Foreign Office Minister Alistair Burt strongly condemned the attack, calling it 'cowardly'. He added that "this tragic event underlines the scale of the security challenge facing the Yemeni government as it seeks to introduce key reforms and work towards completing political transition". [10] The White House issued a statement as well, condemning the bombing and offering to help Yemen with the investigation. [11] US President Barack Obama also expressed concerns that Yemen was becoming a "hub" for terrorism. [12] French President François Hollande described the attack as "barbaric". [8]

The Somali Islamic militant group Al-Shabaab congratulated Al-Qaeda on the successful attack through its official Twitter account. [13]

Aftermath

The Unity Day parade was held on schedule the following day, with President Hadi watching from behind a bulletproof barrier. [14] On 24 May, a suicide bomber killed 12 people when he drove his car into a crowd supporting Shi'ite rebels, who Al Qaeda considers "renegade Muslims". Another suicide bomber attempted to attack a protest on the same day, but his belt killed only himself. [15]

Related Research Articles

In its war on terrorism in Yemen, the US government describes Yemen as "an important partner in the global war on terrorism". There have been attacks on civilian targets and tourists, and there was a cargo-plane bomb plot in 2010. Counter-terrorism operations have been conducted by the Yemeni police, the Yemeni military, and the United States Armed Forces.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula</span> Sunni Islamist militant organization

Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, abbreviated as AQAP, also known as Ansar al-Sharia in Yemen, is a Sunni Islamist insurgent extremist group, which is part of the al-Qaeda network and primarily active in Yemen and Saudi Arabia. It is considered the most active of al-Qaeda's branches that emerged after the weakening of central leadership.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Al-Qaeda insurgency in Yemen</span> Ongoing conflict

The Al-Qaeda insurgency in Yemen is an ongoing armed conflict between the Yemeni government, the United States and their allies, and al-Qaeda-affiliated cells in Yemen. It is a part of the Global War on Terror.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Southern Movement</span> Yemeni southern separatist movement and organization

The Southern Movement, sometimes known as the Southern Separatist Movement, or South Yemen Movement, or Aden Movement, and colloquially known as al-Hirak, is a political movement and paramilitary organization active in the south of Yemen since 2007, demanding secession from the Republic of Yemen and a return to the former independent state of South Yemen. At present, its best-known political offshoot, the Southern Transitional Council led by Aidarus al-Zoubaidi, is the de facto leadership across many provinces of the south.

The Battle of Zinjibar was a battle between forces loyal to Yemeni leader Ali Abdullah Saleh and Islamist militant forces, possibly including elements of al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), for control of the town of Zinjibar and its surroundings as part of the wider insurgency in the self-declared Al-Qaeda Emirate in Yemen. Many of the Islamist forces operating in Abyan province refer to themselves as Ansar al-Sharia.

The Battle of Dofas was a battle during the 2011 Yemeni uprising between forces loyal to Yemeni leader Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi and Islamist militant forces, possibly including elements of al-Qaeda, during which the militants destroyed an Army artillery battalion of the 39th Armored Brigade in the town of Dofas, which was being used as a main base for artillery support against the militant-held towns of Zinjibar and Jaʿār.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2012 Abyan offensive</span>

The 2012 Abyan offensive was an offensive by the Yemeni military against Islamist militant forces, possibly including elements of Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), in the province of Abyan with the purpose of re-capturing the militant-held towns of Zinjibar and Jaʿār.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ansar al-Sharia (Yemen)</span> Militant jihadist organization in Yemen

Jama'at Ansar al-Shari'a, also known as Ansar al-Shari'a, is a Yemen-based umbrella organization which includes units from several militant Islamic groups of al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP). In 2011, AQAP created Ansar Al-Sharia as a Yemen-based affiliate focused on waging an insurgency rather than international attacks on the West. In the view of the International Crisis Group, AQAP is "an internally diverse organisation with varying layers of support among the local population" and many AAS members and allies are not committed to AQAP's international agenda.

The following lists events that happened during 2012 in Yemen.

"Yemeni Crisis (2011–present)" refers to events of the Houthi insurgency in Yemen, the Yemeni Revolution, the Al-Qaeda insurgency in Yemen and the South Yemen insurgency.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Saudi-led intervention in the Yemeni civil war</span> Saudi war against Houthis in Yemen launched in 2015

On 26 March 2015, Saudi Arabia, leading a coalition of nine countries from West Asia and North Africa, launched an intervention in Yemen at the request of Yemeni president Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi, who had been ousted from the capital, Sanaa, in September 2014 by Houthi insurgents during the Yemeni Civil War. Efforts by the United Nations to facilitate a power sharing arrangement under a new transitional government collapsed, leading to escalating conflict between government forces, Houthi rebels, and other armed groups, which culminated in Hadi fleeing to Saudi Arabia shortly before it began military operations in the country.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shabwah campaign</span> Campaign of the Yemeni Civil War

The Shabwah campaign was a campaign for control of the Shabwah Governorate of Yemen, between the Houthis and Yemen Army units loyal to Ali Abdullah Saleh on one side, and militiamen and Yemen Army units loyal to Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi on the other side. The offensive was also launched during a previously started AQAP offensive.

In early December 2015, two Yemeni towns, Zinjibar and Ja'ar, were captured by the jihadist group Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP). This was the second capture and occupation of Zinjibar during unrest in Yemen. The town was earlier taken by AQAP's in May 2011 and held until the summer of 2012.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Southern Abyan Offensive (2016)</span>

The Southern Abyan Offensive refers to a 2016 offensive that AQAP launched in late February, which ended with a victory for AQAP as Yemeni tribal fighters loyal to president Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi were driven out of the Abyan Governorate.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aden unrest (2015–2019)</span> Conflict in southern Yemen between government, separatists and Islamists

The Aden unrest was a conflict between Islamist factions, such as al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, and Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant's Yemen Branch, against the loyalists of president Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi and later to conflict between UAE-backed and Saudi-backed factions within the coalition. In 2017, fighting also broke out between factions aligned with different members of the Saudi-led coalition namely Saudi Arabia-backed Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi and Al-Islah and UAE-backed separatist Southern Transitional Council and Southern Movement.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shabwah Governorate offensive</span> Insurgent campaign by Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula

The Shabwah Governorate offensive is an insurgent campaign by Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) forces to take control of Shabwah Governorate during the Yemeni Civil War.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Islamic State – Yemen Province</span> Branch of Islamic State, active in Yemen

The Islamic State – Yemen Province is a branch of the militant Islamist group Islamic State (IS), active in Yemen. IS announced the group's formation on 13 November 2014.

The following is a timeline of the Yemeni civil war, which began in September 2014.

The Hadramaut insurgency was an insurgency in Yemen launched by AQAP and ISIL-YP against forces loyal to president Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Abyan conflict</span> Clashes of the Yemeni Civil War

The Abyan conflict was a series of clashes between forces of AQAP loyal to Yemeni president Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi, and forces loyal to Southern Movement for the control of Abyan between 2016 and 2018.

References

  1. 1 2 Yemen: Al Qaeda affiliate behind blast that killed 101 soldiers
  2. 1 2 "Death Toll Rises to over 120 after Yemen Parade Bombing". Yemen Post. 21 May 2012. Retrieved 21 May 2012.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 "'Al-Qaeda attack' on Yemen army parade causes carnage". BBC News. 21 May 2012. Retrieved 21 May 2012.
  4. 1 2 "Al-Qaeda claims bombing that killed nearly 100 Yemeni soldiers". Al Arabiya. 21 May 2012. Archived from the original on 23 October 2017. Retrieved 25 May 2012.
  5. 1 2 Robert F. Worth and Eric Schmitt (21 May 2012). "Qaeda Link Seen in Deadly Blast in Yemen Capital". The New York Times. Retrieved 25 May 2012.
  6. 1 2 "Al-Qaida Says Yemen Suicide Bombing Was 'Revenge'". Voice of America. 21 May 2012. Archived from the original on 23 June 2012. Retrieved 21 May 2012.
  7. 1 2 Mohammed Al Qadhi (21 May 2012). "Yemen president vows to fight terror after suicide attack". The National. Archived from the original on 23 May 2012. Retrieved 20 May 2012.
  8. 1 2 "UN condemns suicide attack on Yemeni army parade". BBC News. 21 March 2012. Retrieved 21 May 2012.
  9. ↑ "Al-Qaeda claims deadly Yemen suicide blast". Al Jazeera. 21 May 2012. Retrieved 20 May 2012.
  10. ↑ "Foreign Office minister condemns 'cowardly' Yemen bombings". ITV. 21 May 2012. Retrieved 21 May 2012.
  11. ↑ "US Condemns Yemen Bombing, Offers Help on Investigation". Yemen Post. 21 May 2012. Retrieved 21 May 2012.
  12. ↑ "Obama says Yemen now a hub for foreign terrorists". Fox News Channel. Associated Press. 21 May 2012. Retrieved 21 May 2012.
  13. ↑ Tristan McConnell (20 May 2012). "Yemen bomb: Somalia's rebels congratulate suicide bomber". Global Post. Retrieved 21 May 2012.
  14. ↑ Adam Baron (22 May 2012). "After bombing, Yemen's Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi watches Unity Day ceremony from behind barrier". The Miami Herald. Retrieved 22 May 2012.
  15. ↑ Ahmed Al-Haj (24 May 2012). "Security: Suicide attack kills 12 in east Yemen". The Kansas City Star. Associated Press. Retrieved 25 May 2012.

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