SANAA — A huge explosion killed the governor of Yemen's southern Aden province and six of his bodyguards on Sunday, security officials said, in an attack that was later claimed by a local Islamic State affiliate.
If true, it would be the most high-profile assassination carried out by the Islamic State group in Yemen. The war-torn country is home to what Washington considers the most dangerous al-Qaida offshoot, which controls parts of the country, mainly in the east and the south.
However, the Islamic State's local affiliate has been stepping up its attacks lately, including an explosion at a mosque and targeted suicide car bombings.
Gov. Gaafar Mohamed Saad was traveling to his office when the explosion struck his convoy in the southern port city. Authorities are investigating the exact cause of the blast.
