Bomb explodes at qat market in Yemeni oasis city

An explosion at a marketplace in a Yemeni oasis city has killed seven people and wounded 18 more, situated in one of the most hotly contested provinces in the country.

MENA

1 min read

�� & agencies

27 July, 2016

Forces loyal to President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi control Marib [Getty]

A bomb blasted through a packed outdoor market in Yemen's oasis city of Marib, killing seven people and wounded 18 more.

The blast targeted a market selling qat on Wednesday, the mild narcotic leaf popular in the Arabian Peninsula country, a security official in Marib said.

Forces loyal to Yemen's President Abd Rabbo Mansour Hadi control Marib, which is east of Yemen's rebel-held capital Sanaa.

The province of Marib has seen fierce battles between Hadi loyalists and Houthi rebels and their allies, who continue to control northern parts of the governorate.

A Saudi-led coalition which intervened in Yemen in March 2015 against the rebels has forces based in Marib province to support the government loyalists.

Al-Qaeda and Islamic State group militants have found ground amid the chaos, and launched a wave of bombings across the country - targeting both pro- and anti-government forces and civilians.

More than 6,400 Yemenis have been killed since last March - most of them civilians - and the fighting has driven 2.8 million people from their homes.