Untitled - orsam

Initially everybody pointed the finger of accusation at Al Qaeda for this attack, as it is the
only organization that utilizes suicide attacks in this manner, not to mention car-bombs,
despite the fact that the Huthis were the only group not to accuse Al Qaeda, instead
accusing the US and Israeli intelligence services. The Huthis repeated this accusation
following a second suicide bombing that took place on Friday in Dahyan, killing 3 and
wounding many others. This suicide bombing targeted a convoy of cars that were
traveling from Saada to Dahyan to attend the funeral of the spiritual leader of the Huthi
rebels, Badreddin al-Huthi, who died on Thursday at the age of 86. Almost all parties
accused the Al Qaeda organization of being behind this suicide attack that targeted the
Huthis – the second attack in one week – except for the Huthis themselves, according to
sources in al-Jawf.
On the day of the second suicide bombing, Asharq Al-Awsat was present at the funeral of
Sheikh Abdullah al-Azi Abdan's son, Yousef Abdan, who was killed in the previous
bombing. Tribal dignitaries and elders, political figures, and even some members of the
Salafist trend stopped by to pay their respects and offer Sheikh Abdan their condolences
for his loss, condemning the terrorist attack.
However his was not like other funerals in which Quran verses are read and prayers
given for the soul of the departed, for the place filled to the brim with mourners and
worshippers after a religious cleric began to give a sermon utilizing a microphone and
loudspeakers. Anybody listening to the voice of this young cleric might have thought they
were listening to Abdul-Malik al-Huthi himself, such was his popularity.
This sermon did not mention the deceased at all, or offer any prayers that he should rest
in peace, but rather this was a purely political sermon and repeated the same
accusations that were made in the statement issued previously by the Huthis, namely
that the US and Israel were behind the attacks.
However it must also be mentioned that the majority of those attending this funeral
were not Huthis, and Asharq Al-Awsat can confirm that it heard mourners speculating
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