Car bomb hits Yemen’s defense ministry

At least 20 people were killed and dozens more injured after a car bomb exploded Thursday at Yemen’s defense ministry in the capital of Sanaa.

A dozen gunmen were also killed in a subsequent firefight between Yemeni troops and militants who arrived minutes after the suicide bomber exploded his vehicle, according to The Associated Press.

{mosads}The gunmen, who were wearing Yemeni army uniforms, were armed with assault rifles, hand grenades and rocket-propelled grenades, military officials told AP.

The Yemeni defense ministry issued a statement that “most” gunmen had been killed without providing further details.

No group had immediately claimed responsibility for the attack, but it comes as Yemen’s al Qaeda affiliate, al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, is battling Yemeni government forces.