Incident Summary:

12/30/2020: Security forces intercepted an explosives-laden drone targeting the Mashiq (Maasheq) Palace, a residence for Yemeni cabinet members, in Aden City, Adan Governorate, Yemen. This was one of two related incidents. The targeted officials included the Yemeni Prime Minister and the Saudi Ambassador to Yemen. There were no reported casualties. No group claimed responsibility for the incident; however, sources suspect the involvement of Houthi extremists (Ansar Allah). Additionally, sources noted that the targeted officials were newly elected as part of a peace agreement in early December 2020.

GTD ID:
202012300009

When:
2020-12-30

Country:
Yemen

Region:
Middle East & North Africa

Province/administrative
region/u.s. state:

Adan

City:
Aden

Attack Information
Type of Attack (more) Assassination
Successful Attack? (more) No
Target Information (more)
Target Type: Government (Diplomatic)
Name of Entity Saudi Arabian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Specific Description Ambassador: Mohammed bin Saeed Al-Jaber
Nationality of Target Saudi Arabia
Target Type: Government (General)
Name of Entity Government of Yemen
Specific Description Maashiq Presidential Palace
Nationality of Target Yemen
Additional Information
Hostages No
Ransom No
Property Damage Unknown
Extent of Property Damage Unknown
Value of Property Damage Unknown
Weapon Information
Type Sub-type
Explosives Remote Trigger
Weapon Details
A remote-controlled explosives-laden drone was used in the attack.
Additional Information
Suicide Attack?No
Part of Multiple Incident?Yes
Criterion 1 (more) Yes
Criterion 2 (more) Yes
Criterion 3 (more) Yes
Doubt Terrorism Proper (more) No
Additional Information Casualties conflict across sources. Following GTD protocol, the most recent reliable estimates are reported here.
Perpetrator Group Information
Group Name Claimed Responsibility
Houthi extremists (Ansar Allah) (suspected) No
Perpetrator Statistics
Number of Perpetrators Unknown
Number of Captured Perpetrators 0
Casualty Information
Total Number of Casualties 0 Fatalities / 0 Injured
Total Number of Fatalities 0
Number of U.S. Fatalities 0
Number of Perpetrator Fatalities 0
Total Number of Injured 0
Number of U.S. Injured 0
Number of Perpetrators Injured 0
Sources
"Several killed in attack on Yemen’s Aden airport: Live news," Al Jazeera, December 30, 2020.
"Drone 'shot down' near presidential palace in Yemen's Aden," BBC Monitoring, December 30, 2020.
"Yemen’s prime minister condemns Aden airport attack," Radio Habana Cuba, December 30, 2020.