Aden (South24)

Multiple sources told South 24 that an explosion targeted a small "Arab coalition" force in the city of Aden, South Yemen, on Saturday afternoon.

"A bomb placed on the side of the road exploded in an area near Fifty Street in the city of "Enma" in Aden",The sources said.

The sources confirmed that there were no casualties in the incident that targeted a convoy of the Arab alliance, as it was heading to "Maasheek Palace" coming from the city of Al-Shaab, where the headquarters of the Arab coalition led by Saudi Arabia is located.

A website of the security belt forces reported on Twitter that "a force of the security belt and the fight against terrorism deployed after the accident and carried out a large search operation in the area."

قوات الحزام الأمني وقوات مكافحة الإرهاب تنفذ حملة أمنية وتفتيش واسع النطاق في إنما..
لايوجد اي اصابات إثناء إنفجار العبوة الناسفة..

— قوات الحزام الأمني/الضالع (@SecurityBelt) April 4, 2020

South24 obtained photos showing the location of the explosion and the deployment of security units.

A security soldier stands near the place of the bomb explosion on the main street near the city of "Enma" in Aden, March 04, 2020 "South 24"

Other sources told South24 that the blast hit slightly one of the vehicles of the Arab coalition convoy forces.

Blocking the return

This incident comes at a time when Aden Security Director General Shallal Ali Shayi is absent from the leadership of the agency, after Saudi Arabia prevented him and prominent officials of the Southern Transitional Council from returning in March.

While it is not clear until now, who is behind the bombing, the security forces and the security belt in Aden have succeeded in tightening the screws on extremist and terrorist groups and some local gangs over the past few years.

This is the first time that a Saudi force affiliated with the Arab coalition has been subjected to such attack, since it entered Aden on October 12, 2019, after the forces of the United Arab Emirates leave, according to the Riyadh agreement signed between the Yemeni government and the Southern Transitional Council.

This incident comes at a time when Aden Security Director General Shallal Ali Shayi is absent from the leadership of the agency, after Saudi Arabia prevented him and prominent officials of the STC from returning in March.

A Saudi military force made up of dozens of armored vehicles and personnel carriers arrived in Aden less than a week ago. It was followed by the landing of a Saudi military plane at Aden International Airport carrying Yemeni recruits trained by Riyadh on its soil, and it is believed that the Saudi forces are seeking to appoint them as part of the missions to protect their headquarters in the city.

Aden had witnessed remarkable tension last month after the Arab coalition forces in Aden tried to impose a security force to protect Aden International Airport.