Sana, August 16 — A devastating suicide bomb attack on a military checkpoint in Yemen's southern province of Abyan has left 16 soldiers dead and at least 18 others seriously injured. The attack, which took place in the Mudiyah district on Friday, was claimed by a faction of the terrorist organization Al Qaeda.

Mohamed Al Naqib, a spokesperson for the Southern Transitional Council (STC), which commands the southern forces of the Yemeni army, confirmed to Al Jazeera that the attack occurred when a vehicle exploded in front of a military checkpoint. The vehicle, reportedly carrying a powerful bomb, was used by an attacker who detonated the improvised explosive device targeting the soldiers at the checkpoint.

The responsibility for the attack was claimed by Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), a branch of the broader Al Qaeda network that operates in the Middle East. According to the US-based Sight Intelligence Group, the bomb used in the attack was of considerable power, emphasizing the calculated nature of the operation.

AQAP was formed in 2009 following the merger of Al Qaeda's Yemeni and Saudi factions. The group gained significant strength amid the ongoing conflict between the Yemeni government and the Houthi rebels, particularly since 2015. Over the years, AQAP has carried out numerous attacks in southern Yemen, including a bombing last March that killed two soldiers at another army checkpoint.

The attack in Mudiyah district marks yet another instance of violence in the region, highlighting the persistent threat posed by AQAP in Yemen’s ongoing conflict.