Special to WorldTribune.com

CAIRO — Al Qaida was believed to have infiltrated Yemen’s military.

Officials acknowledged that Al Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula might have penetrated the mid-level officer corps of the Yemeni military.

The officials said this enabled AQIM to target the Yemeni military and Defense Ministry.

“This situation can not be ignored,” a military source said.

On Dec. 5, at least 52 people were killed and nearly 170 were injured in a suspected AQIM strike on the Defense Ministry in Sanaa. Officials said the attack was conducted by a suicide bomber and others in Yemen Army uniforms.

“The attackers have exploited some construction work there to carry out this criminal act,” the Defense Ministry said.

AQIM did not claim immediate responsibility for the attack. Officials said a suicide attacker blew up his car packed with explosives outside the Defense Ministry, followed by another car that opened fire on soldiers.

“The attack took place shortly after working hours started at the
ministry, when a suicide bomber drove a car into the gate,” the Defense
Ministry said.

Yemeni President Abbed Rabbo Mansour Hadi ordered an investigation into
the attack. Hadi, prodded by Western allies, has sought to reform the
military.

AQIM has repeatedly penetrated both military and Defense Ministry
facilities. In July 2012, 90 people were killed when an AQIM suicide bomber
infiltrated a Yemen military parade in Sanaa.

Two months later, Yemeni Defense Minister Mohammed Ahmed survived an
assassination attempt in which 12 people were killed. During the latest
attack, Ahmed was in the United States in discussions on military
cooperation.

  Abbed Rabbo Mansour Hadi, Al Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula, Al Qaida infiltrators in Yemen’s military may have conducted deadly attack on defense ministry, Sanaa