10 worshippers killed in Yemen’s Houthi Mosque before Eid; Islamic State

The bombings by the Islamic State, a Sunni extremist group, have often been seen as efforts to incite a broader sectarian conflict with followers of the Houthis, the Shi’ite-led rebel movement that has controlled Sana for more than a year. It has been reported that this the second attack in Yemen’s capital in a month, targeting the Shi’ite Zaydi group.

Shiite fighters, known as Houthis, gather outside the al-Balili mosque after two suicide bombings at the mosque during Eid al-Adha prayers in Sanaa, Yemen, Thursday, September 24, 2015. The Associated Press could not independently verify the authenticity of the claim. “In a security operation facilitated by God as part of the acts of revenge for Muslims from the rejectionist Houthis, brother Abu Omar al-Hadidi waded into a crowd of apostate Houthis at al-Balili temple, detonated his suicide belt causing dozens to perish or to be injured…”, the statement released by the Islamic State branch in Yemen said.

“We rushed outside and summoned the ambulances”, one witness said. The officials, who remain neutral in the conflict that has splintered the country, spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk to the media. Police and some Houthi fighters came to inspect the aftermath. The so-called Islamic State (IS) militant group said it had carried out the bombing. He had fled in March following gains by Houthi rebels, who have since been targeted by a Saudi-led coalition.

In March, Islamic State suicide bombers killed at least 137 worshippers and wounded hundreds more in coordinated attacks at two mosques during Friday prayers in Sanaa.

“The Security Council expressed deep sympathy and condolences to the families and friends of those killed and injured, as well as to the people and the government of Yemen”, the statement said.

Also on Thursday, the 15-nation Security Council condemned “in the strongest terms the horrific terrorist attacks” on the mosque in Sanaa, said a separate statement issued by the United Nations body.