Yemen’s Chief of Staff Sagher bin Aziz survived on Tuesday an assassination attempt in the Marib province.
Three of his companions were wounded when a booby-trapped vehicle exploded as his convoy was driving on the international highway in Marib city, said Yemeni military sources.
Observers believe that the Iran-backed Houthi militias were behind the attack, noting that security forces have arrested Houthi cells in Marib over the years.
The assassination attempt took place amid relative calm in the country in the past 18 months. The calm has been disrupted by the Houthis amassing forces to the Marib front and launching attacks in Taiz.
Defense Minister Mohsen Mohammed al-Daeri telephoned bin Aziz to “strongly condemn the cowardly attack” against him.
He hailed the national forces for defending the nation and confronting the terrorist Houthi militias, said the military media.
Daeri said the attack on bin Aziz was motivated by his national stances, brave leadership and stern approach in confronting the Houthis. He called for an investigation into the incident.
Bin Aziz was in Marib where he met with Presidential Leadership Council member Sultan al-Arada. They discussed the latest field and military developments.
Bin Aziz briefed Arada on the visits he carried out to the United States and Saudi Arabia and the talks he held there with military officials.