IS claims killing of Aden governor in Yemen vehicle bombing

A vehicle bombing claimed by the ISIS group on Sunday killed the governor of Yemen’s second city Aden, a day after the UN’s envoy visited to press for long-delayed peace talks.

As per to an AP count, Islamic State had claimed that it had put to death not less than 159 people and injured at least 345 in the bombings this year in Yemen.

Aden has been declared the temporary capital of Yemen after a Saudi Arabia-led coalition of militaries helped government forces seize it from Iran-backed Houthi militias in July.

Mr Saad was a significant figure not just as the administrative head of Aden, but for the role he played in driving Houthi rebels out of the port city earlier this year, our correspondent says.

Tawahi has become a stronghold in recent months for armed groups, including al-Qaeda whose fighters have expanded their presence across the district. As coalition forces have focused on vanquishing the rebels – fighting the Houthis in the city of Taiz, and in Marib, east of Sanaa – the advance appears to have left the south exposed. A local Islamic State affiliate later claimed responsibility for the attack.

The group also posted what it said were photographs of the booby-trapped vehicle as a white van taking Saad drove past, subsequently two other pictures of a tremendous ball of fire which it said were required as the bomb burst.

Saad was appointed governor in October, replacing Nayef Al Bakri.

The UN hopes to sponsor talks in Geneva later this month, bringing together the government and the Houthi rebels, who support former President Ali Abdullah Saleh. Yemen has been under military strikes by Saudi Arabia and its allies on a daily basis since March 26. Its statement on Sunday threatened further attacks. It wants to establish governance in Yemen based on a strict interpretation of Sunni Islamic law.

On Saturday, masked gunmen have killed a prominent judge who was known for sentencing Al-Qaeda militants to prison in Aden.