Last Wednesday's (July 6th) deadly attack by al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) on a military base at Yemen's Aden airport has sparked official and public condemnation.
In the early morning hours of Eid al-Fitr, between 15 and 20 assailants wearing military uniforms stormed the airport headquarters of al-Solban military camp for special forces.
They detonated a car bomb at the entrance to the camp, then blew up a second vehicle inside, killing at least 10 soldiers, a military source said.
Later the same day, after the militants had stormed the camp, Yemeni troops took back control with help from coalition forces, killing at least six assailants and forcing the others to flee.
AQAP claimed the attack via social media.
In remarks published in local media, Yemeni President Abd Rabbu Mansour Hadi described the assault as “a treacherous and cowardly terrorist attack” perpetrated by “the forces of evil against unarmed civilians”.
Prime Minister Ahmed bin Dagher also condemned the attack, describing it as "a criminal act" during a same-day visit to the joint operations room of the Yemeni and coalition forces in Aden.
During this meeting he underscored the government’s commitment to “preventing the hands of destruction from derailing the safety and security of citizens and undermining the government’s performance”, local media reported.
Foreign Minister Abdulmalek al-Mikhlafi denounced the attack on social media.
“The terrorist attack on al-Solban camp necessitates all forms of condemnation and a group effort to expose sleeper cells, fight terrorism and maintain security," he said.
“The success of the national army in taking back al-Solban following al-Qaeda’s terrorist attack and the martyrdom of several soldiers shows that Aden is regaining its security," he added.
Acting Minister of Human Rights Ali Tayseer told Al-Shorfa he condemns “every terrorist operation that occurs”.
A painful reminder
For mothers who lost sons in previous terror attacks, last week's assault was particularly painful.
Nadia Mohammed, 56, told Al-Shorfa she is still mourning the loss of her 21-year-old son, Mohammed Fadhel, who was killed in a terror attack on May 23rd during an army recruitment drive.
“Neither Eid nor life has any meaning for me”, she said of the death of her youngest son, who was killed as he was trying to find a job that would provide income for himself and his mother.
The residents of Aden have refused to surrender to the violence, however, with many insisting on taking their children to parks and beaches to celebrate Eid.
“The city’s beaches and parks are filled with visitors and their children despite the terrorist attack," said Aden resident Ali al-Juneid, deputy assistant to the Minister of Agriculture.
"This is people’s way of protesting against the culture of killing and destruction and [reasserting] their love of life in spite of what they are going through and the pain that surrounds them," he said.
"I am sad for the loss of innocent life due to terrorist acts whose sole purpose is to kill,” public sector employee Muhsina Salih, 33, told Al-Shorfa.
“The people of Aden have not surrendered to these terrorist acts, as people are still celebrating Eid despite the tragedy and sadness," she said. "You can see that in the parks and beaches that are filled with visitors."
