The Islamic State jihadist group claimed responsibility for today's bombings of mosques in Yemen, in which at least 142 people were killed according to the latest report.
In the capital city of Sana'a, suicide attacks were carried out on two mosques in which members of the powerful Shiite Houthi militia, which took over power in Sana'a at the beginning of the year, were killed.
Another suicide attack took place in front of a mosque in Saada, in northern Yemen, an area where the Houthis originate.
These are the first attacks in Yemen for which the Islamic State claims responsibility. In Yemen, the extremist group Al Qaeda has the largest stronghold, which carries out frequent attacks on members of the Houthis and the security forces.
An online statement signed by the Islamic State branch in Yemen said that these attacks were only the tip of the iceberg and that other attacks against the Houthis would follow.
The Islamic State states that five suicide bombers took part in the attacks, four blew themselves up in two mosques in Sana'a, and the fifth in Saada.
The explosions followed yesterday's gunfight in the southern Yemeni city of Aden between troops loyal to the current and former Yemeni president. 13 people died in these clashes.
The Houthis are allies of former Yemeni president Ali Abdullah Saleh. They have been controlling the capital Sana'a since September last year.
Earlier this year, Yemen's official president, Abed Rabbo Mansur Hadi, who has the support of the West, was placed under house arrest by the Houthis, but Hadi managed to escape to Aden.
Condemnations come from the UN and the US
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon condemned the terrorist attacks on mosques in Yemen today.
Through a statement by his spokesman Farhan Haq, Ban called on all parties to end the conflict and exercise restraint.
"All parties must adhere to their obligations in order to overcome differences peacefully and should have confidence in the ongoing UN negotiations with the aim of reaching an agreement," the statement said.
Ban condemned the killing of civilians and expressed his condolences to the families of the victims, according to the UN statement.
The US strongly condemned these attacks and noted that a statement was being considered Islamic State jihadists who claimed responsibility for attacks.
"We strongly condemn these attacks," a State Department spokesman said Josh Earnest.
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