Yemen: Separatist fighters attack military academy ceremony in Aden August 18 /update 1

Event

Separatist fighters launched an attack on a military academy's commencement in Aden on Saturday, August 18, killing one person and wounding two others. The separatist fighters reportedly opened fire on the graduation ceremony because the unification flag of Yemen was flying over the area during the event. Additional separatist attacks are possible in Aden in the near-term.

Context

The port city of Aden - the seat of the internationally recognized government currently at war with Houthi rebels - frequently witnesses assassination attempts on political and religious figures and attacks on security forces. Notably, a roadside bomb detonated in Aden on August 14 in an apparent assassination attempt on the provincial governor of Taiz; the governor was unharmed by the blast, but several others were wounded.

Yemen is engaged in a complex and deadly conflict, ongoing since Houthi rebels entered into a civil war with the Yemeni government, supported by a Saudi-led coalition, in 2015. More than 10,000 Yemenis have died in the fighting and over 2.5 million have been displaced.

Advice

Individuals in Aden are advised to monitor developments to the situation, report all suspicious objects and behavior to the police, and adhere to all instructions issued by the local authorities.

The security environment in Yemen remains complex. Due to poor security conditions, many Western governments strongly advise their citizens against all travel to Yemen. Travel to the country should only be considered with proper security protocols in place. Professional security advice and support should be sought prior to travel.