Yemen: Bomb attack in Mudiyah, Abyan Governorate, Jan. 6

Event

A bomb targeted a military vehicle belonging to the Southern Transitional Council (STC) in the Mudiyah District in Abyan Governorate, Jan. 6. The blast killed at least four soldiers and wounded nine others. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack; however, Islamic State (IS) militants, who have perpetrated similar attacks in Abyan Governorate in the past, could have been responsible. On Dec. 26, a similar attack killed at least two soldiers and wounded three in the Al-Mahfid District of Abyan Governorate.

Security forces will likely maintain a heightened security presence around the site of the blast until the associated investigation concludes. Increased security measures will almost certainly prompt transport and business disruptions in the affected area over the coming hours and days.

Context

The STC was established in 2017 by Major General Aidroos al-Zubaidi, the former governor of Aden, to act as an official governing body for southern Yemen. Yemen unified in 1990, but parts of the south claim they are marginalized by the government and have issued repeated calls for independence. Backed by the UAE, the STC represents a significant military and political force within southern Yemen.

In August 2022, the STC launched a military operation in the Abyan Governorate. While the STC asserts that the move was an anti-terror operation, the offensive was almost certainly an attempt to wrest control of the oil-rich governorate from forces loyal to Yemen's internationally recognized government, which is currently represented by the Presidential Leadership Council (PLC).

Advice

Avoid the impact site. Heed the instructions of the security forces. Maintain contact with your diplomatic representation. Coordinate travel with a trusted source.