7 DEAD AS MISSILE HITS MILITARY PARADE

DUBAI A missile fired by the Iran-aligned Houthi group struck a military parade in Yemen’s town of al-dhalea, killing at least seven and wounding 25, government-allied southern separatist forces who control the area said on Sunday.

No claim of responsibility was made and Houthi media did not immediately comment on the blast or the accusation.

The missile struck a parade ground where a military graduation for Security Belt forces had just finished, statements from the Security Belt group and the al-dhalea southern separatist forces said.

The Security Belt forces are part of a government-aligned southern separatist front in south Yemen that favours the creation of an independent state. They are also backed by the United Arab Emirates in a fight against Yemen’s Iranaligned Houthi group.

Witnesses told Reuters that the blast occurred near a guest platform during the parade.

Pictures from the scene showed a blast hole in the concrete of an outdoor square.