Militant group claims responsibility for attacks on mosques that killed dozens

dimeji akinloye

June 18, 2015 2:41 AM

Scores of people reportedly died on Wednesday, June 17 after coordinated attacks on at least three mosques

ISIL militants.

An armed group in Yemen believed to be loyal to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) has said it is responsible for the series of bombings in the country, targeting mosques and the headquarters of country's dominant Houthi group in Sanaa.

Scores of people reportedly died on Wednesday, June 17 after coordinated attacks on at least three mosques and the political bureau of the Ansarullah movement of the Houthis in the Yemeni capital.

The group said the attacks were in "revenge" against Shia Houthis who have overrun Sanaa, and much of the Sunni majority country in the past one year.

According to a security official who spoke to Reuters, mosques belonging to the members of Zaidi sect of Shia Islam were the target.

Aljazeera reports that the attacks occurred as Muslims around the world prepared for the start of the holy month of Ramadan. Ambulances rushed through the streets in northern and central parts of the capital.

The bombings took place as peace talks in Geneva aimed at halting the fighting in Yemen were extended until at least Friday.

UN special envoy for Yemen, Mauritanian diplomat Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed, met the rebel delegation in a swish Geneva hotel in the evening after talks early in the day with the exiled government delegation.

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dimeji akinloye