Three blasts caused by mortar shells rocked Yemen’s Aden Airport shortly after a plane carrying the new government landed on Wednesday.
The mortar attack killed and wounded several people who were waiting for the new cabinet members to come out of the plane.
Local Yemeni sources have reported that the ministers were unharmed. Initial reports also said that gunfire was heard at the time of the blast.
Yemen’s new power-sharing government, headed by Prime Minister Maeen Abdulmalik, arrived in the interim capital, Aden, after having been sworn in by President Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi in Riyadh on Saturday.
The new cabinet will focus on development, salvaging the country’s economy, and uniting ranks to face the nationwide coup staged by Houthi militias.
“The government’s return to Aden … is considered a step forward in the course of implementing the Riyadh Agreement under the auspices of Saudi Arabia,” government spokesman Rajeh Badi had earlier told Asharq Al-Awsat.
According to Badi, the new ministers have many priorities topped by items Hadi listed during his first meeting with members of the new government.
Hadi has highlighted the need to unite military forces to confront the Houthi threat, face economic challenges and improve public services.
The leader also stressed on continuing to implement the Riyadh Agreement, especially stipulations on weapons and military operations.
“We very much hope for the help from the international community to support Yemen’s government and national economy,” Badi said, noting that Yemen’s deteriorating economy is in dire need of help.
He recognized Saudi Arabia as the main supporter of Yemen and voiced hope that the rest of the international community stands by the new government.
At a meeting Monday with local officials, the governor said the government's return would offer help to Aden’s provincial leadership in solving a set of problems experienced by the southern governorate.
Ahmed Hamid Lamlas also called on Aden's local officials to implement Hadi's instructions and pave way for the government’s return.
Yemeni troops have secured the area linking the ministers' residence in al-Maashiq palace in Aden and their workplace in the cabinet secretariat, where the government is expected to hold intensive meetings.
