(Al Jazeera) Dozens of people have been killed or wounded in at least two explosions at a funeral reception in Sanaa, according to Houthi-controlled media sources.
Saba news agency, which is aligned with the Iran-allied Houthi group, accused an Arab coalition fighter jet of striking the grand hall of ceremonies on al-Khamseen Street in the Yemeni capital on Saturday afternoon.
However, other reports said that suicide bombers were responsible for the attack.
Hakim al-Masmari, the editor of the Yemen Post, told Al Jazeera that the venue was hit by four strikes.
“Initially two, then after the plane circled around, a further two. The planes were heard and seen in the skies by multiple people.
“At least 130 people have been killed and more than 300 injured. Senior intelligence and military officials were present, and Sanaa’s mayor Abdul-Qader Hilal was confirmed killed,” al-Masmari said.
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| Senior Houthi officials were reportedly attending the funeral ceremony [Yemen Post] |
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| A large plume of smoke was billowing over Sanaa following the explosions [Yemen Post] |
Al Jazeera has not yet been able to independently verify the death toll.
Saba cited a security source as saying that the coalition air strikes occurred as the funeral reception was under way for the father of Brigadier Jalal al-Ruweishan, interior minister in the self-proclaimed Houthi government.
The source said al-Ruweishan was present at the event. It is not clear whether he survived the attack.
The attacks caused a large fire at the grand hall, which was largely destroyed, said the Sabaa report.
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