Islamic State Claims Responsibility For Yemen Mosque Bombings Which Killed 137

Islamic State (IS) say its militants carried out suicide bombings on
two mosques in the Yemeni capital, Sanaa, which killed at least 137
people.

The attacks are the first claimed by IS - a Sunni group - since it set
up a branch in Yemen in November.

Both mosques were used mainly by supporters of the Zaidi Shia-led
Houthi rebel movement, which controls Sanaa.

Yemen has suffered from political instability for years and Houthi
rebels control nine of the 21 provinces.

The government of internationally recognised President Abed Rabbo
Mansour Hadi has fled to the southern port city of Aden.

Four suicide bombers attacked the Badr mosque, in the south of Sanaa,
and the al-Hashoosh mosque, in the north of the capital, as
worshippers gathered for Friday prayers.

At the Badr mosque, one bomber entered the building and detonated his
explosives while other people were caught by the second bomber near
the main gates.

Prominent Houthi cleric Al-Murtada bin Zayd al-Mahatwari, the imam of
the Badr mosque, was among those killed, local media reported.

Two more bombers attacked the al-Hashoosh mosque, with one detonating
explosives near the entrance and the other running into the mosque
itself.

"Blood was running like a river," said survivor Mohammed al-Ansi.

Rebel controlled al-Masirah TV broadcast footage from the al-Hashoosh
mosque showing volunteers using bloodied blankets to carry away
victims. Bodies were also lined up in the prayer hall.

About 300 people were wounded, medics said, and hospitals appealed for
blood donors.

There was another suicide attack on a mosque in the northern city of
Saada - a Houthi stronghold - reports said, but only the attacker was
killed.

Air strike

Both al-Qaeda and IS consider Shia Muslims to be heretics and have
rallied against Houthis in Yemen.

A statement from Islamic State published on Twitter promised further attacks.

"Let the polytheist Houthis know that the soldiers of the Islamic
State will not rest until we have uprooted them," the statement said.

The White House "strongly condemned" the attacks, but said it could
not confirm that those behind them were affiliated with IS.

Spokesman Josh Earnest said IS could be falsely claiming responsibility.

"It does appear that these kinds of claims are often made for a
perception that it benefits their propaganda efforts," he told
reporters.
--BBC