Mortar shells hit Yemeni Air Force Base, destroying two fighter jets
October 31st, 2011 - 1:48 am ICT by BNO NewsSANA’A (BNO NEWS) — A series of large explosions hit an Air Force base in the Yemeni capital of Sana’a on late Sunday evening, the government said, destroying two aircraft and shutting down the nearby civilian airport.
The Defense Ministry said several mortar shells had hit the al-Daylami Air Force base which shares its runway with Sana’a International Airport. The explosions destroyed at least two fighter jets, a small ammunition storage and a fire could be seen on the runway.
There were no immediate reports of casualties from the attack, which was apparently launched by opposition tribesmen, but the fires forced authorities to shut down the civilian airport until further notice. Incoming flights were diverted to an airport in the seaport city of Aden.
Yemen is one of a handful of countries across North Africa and the Middle East where large numbers of civilians have risen up this year to call for greater democracy and freedoms. But violence in the country has continued to escalate after President Saleh threatened with civil war after refusing, for a third time, to sign the Gulf Cooperation Council initiative for power transition on May 22.
The uprising against President Saleh has claimed at least 1,500 lives since February.
- At least eight civilians killed, dozens injured in Yemen's Taiz province - Oct 06, 2011
- Yemen opposition insists Saleh quit, president digs in - Mar 22, 2011
- 28 die in Yemen weapons depot blast - May 26, 2011
- Dozens killed in fresh Yemen clashes - Jul 31, 2011
- 29 protesters killed in police firing in Yemen(Lead) - Mar 18, 2011
- Protests rattle major cities across Yemen - Apr 14, 2011
- Two students dead in Yemen as protests continue - Feb 23, 2011
- Over 50 killed as clashes between Yemeni security forces and tribal rebels continue - May 25, 2011
- Seven protesters killed in Yemeni capital - Mar 18, 2011
- 19 killed, hundreds injured in clashes across Yemen - May 12, 2011
- Yemen's top army generals join protesters - Mar 21, 2011
- Emergency declared in Yemen, 41 killed in police firing (Second Lead) - Mar 18, 2011
- Al Qaeda leaders killed in Yemen air strike - May 07, 2012
- One killed in Yemen protests - Mar 12, 2011
- US asks embassy officials in Yemen to evacuate - May 26, 2011
Tags: airline, al jazeera, city of aden, incoming flights, large explosion, local media, masdar, military base, seaport city, shell, sunday evening, yemeni capital