Hani Mohammed / AP Photo
At least 31 people were killed and another 23 injured on Monday in a Yemeni government air raid on a mosque and other buildings in downtown Jaar—apparently by accident. A senior security official in Jaar confirmed the attack and said it was a mistake, saying the wanted militants had been in the area only one hour earlier. The airstrike hit a government compound, which includes a mosque, a residential area, a hospital, and government offices. Jaar, the largest town in Abyan province, is considered a stronghold for extremists, but residents were still questioning why the air raid targeted civilians. “Actions like this will force locals to attack government forces to avenge for their loved ones killed by the government,” said Jaar resident Nasser Attaf.