Since March last year, Yemen has been immersed in a conflict pitting the country's Shiite Houthi rebels and their allies against President Abed Rabbo Mansour's government, which is backed by a Saudi-led coalition. Throughout its year-long rule of Mukalla, al-Qaida forged an alliance with local forces fighting the Houthis in cities like Taiz and Aden. Those local fighters are backed by the Saudi-led coalition, a reflection of the complexities of Yemen's conflict. After its withdrawal from Mukalla, al-Qaida said it pulled out to spare the city of destruction. Officers from a Saudi-led coalition backing Yemen's internationally recognized government have been seen recently at the base but it was not immediately clear if any of the coalition troops were present at the time of the attack.

Source: ABC News May 12, 2016 03:11 UTC