Jaʽār munitions factory explosion
{{Short description|2011 blast at a factory in Southern Yemen}}
{{Old news|date=March 2024}}{{Infobox civilian attack
| title = Ja{{ayin}}ār factory explosion
| partof =
| image =
| alt =
| caption =
| location = Ammunition factory, near Jaʿār, Abyan Governorate
| coordinates = {{coord|13|13|23|N|45|18|20|E|display=inline}}
| date = {{Start date|2011|03|28}}
| time =
| timezone = UTC+3
| type = militant raid, followed by accidental explosion caused by nearby resident
| fatalities = 150{{cite news|title=Yemen: Blast Kills 150 In Arms Factory Raid|url=http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/World-News/Yemen-Blast-Explosion-At-Arms-Factory-Kills-Dozens-Syria-Expected-To-Lift-State-Of-Emergency/Article/201103415961478?lpos=World_News_Third_Home_Page_Article_Teaser_Region__2&lid=ARTICLE_15961478_Yemen_Blast%3A_Explosion_At_Arms_Factory_Kills_Dozens%2C_Syria_Expected_To_Lift_State_Of_Emergency|accessdate=29 March 2011|newspaper=Sky News HD|date=March 29, 2011}}{{cite news|last=Almasmari|first=Hakim|title=Blast at Yemen Munitions Plant Kills at Least 124|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748704471904576228560307960384|accessdate=29 March 2011|newspaper=The Wall Street Journal|date=March 28, 2011}}
| injuries = 45
}}
A munitions factory explosion took place on March 28, 2011, in the village of Khanfar, Abyan, bordering the town of Ja{{ayin}}ār in Abyan Governorate, southern Yemen.
Background
The explosion occurred during a period of high insurgency from rebel forces and Islamist movements in Southern Yemen, in addition to an ongoing government crackdown on al-Qaeda. Following clashes near the town of Ja{{ayin}}ār, the Yemeni Air Force bombed the area earlier in the day of the explosion.{{cite news|last=Salama|first=Vivian|title=Saleh Rules Out More Concessions, Says Yemen Is ‘Time Bomb’ Near Civil War|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-03-27/yemen-s-president-says-nation-is-time-bomb-nearing-civil-war.html|accessdate=29 March 2011|newspaper=Bloomberg|date=March 28, 2011}} During the same day, President of Yemen Ali Abdullah Saleh announced an end to government concessions given amidst ongoing protests in the country, although it was not immediately known whether the explosion was connected to the protests.{{cite news|last=Staff |first=Bikya Masr |title=Yemen factory explosion kills 78 |url=http://bikyamasr.com/wordpress/?p=31489 |accessdate=29 March 2011 |newspaper=Bikya Masr |date=March 29, 2011 |url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110329041759/http://bikyamasr.com/wordpress/?p=31489 |archive-date=29 March 2011 }}
Incident
{{location map|Yemen|caption=Approximate location of explosion, Ja{{ayin}}ār, Yemen|lat_deg=13|lat_min=13|lat_sec=23|lon_deg=45|lon_min=18|lon_sec=20}}
The blast occurred a day after around 30 armed al-Qaeda militants raided the "7th of October" ammunition plant in the town, stealing cases of ammunition and leaving gunpowder exposed at the site;{{cite news|last=al-Haidari|first=Fawaz|title=Blast at Qaeda-looted Yemen ammo plant kills 75|url=https://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hWug7amXPu7tvORl2S9Ie2oySQgg|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140225141224/http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hWug7amXPu7tvORl2S9Ie2oySQgg|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 25, 2014|accessdate=29 March 2011|newspaper=Agence France-Presse|date=March 28, 2011}}{{cite news|title=Abyan Explosion Kills Scores|url=http://nationalyemen.com/2011/03/28/abyan-explosion-kills-scores/|accessdate=29 March 2011|newspaper=National Yemen|date=March 28, 2011}} militants took over another nearby munitions factory in Khanfar. According to Al Jazeera, the initial fire was reportedly triggered by a local resident dropping a lit cigarette while inside the looted factory,{{cite news|last=Jazeera|first=Al|title=Scores killed in Yemen arms factory blasts|url=http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2011/03/201132810029276777.html|accessdate=29 March 2011|newspaper=Al Jazeera|date=28 March 2011}}{{cite news|last=Lu|first=Hui|title=Death toll in Yemen ammunition factory blast rises to 70|url=http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/world/2011-03/28/c_13801974.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110403020331/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/world/2011-03/28/c_13801974.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 3, 2011|accessdate=29 March 2011|newspaper=Xinhua|date=March 28, 2011}} as some were checking the site for weapons,{{cite news|title=Yemen: Blast Kills 110 In Arms Factory Raid|url=http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/World-News/Yemen-Blast-Explosion-At-Arms-Factory-Kills-Dozens-Syria-Expected-To-Lift-State-Of-Emergency/Article/201103415961478?lpos=World_News_First_World_News_Article_Teaser_Region_3&lid=ARTICLE_15961478_Yemen_Blast%3A_Explosion_At_Arms_Factory_Kills_Dozens%2C_Syria_Expected_To_Lift_State_Of_Emergency|accessdate=29 March 2011|newspaper=Sky News HD|date=March 28, 2011}} which soon led to an explosion. It was loud enough to be heard roughly {{convert|15|km|mi|abbr=on}} from the factory, and left many charred bodies at the scene.
=Casualties=
Estimates of the number of casualties were not immediately clear. According to the BBC and AFP, 78 people died in the explosion,{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-12881240 |title=Yemen weapons factory hit by deadly explosions |accessdate=28 March 2011 |date=28 March 2011 |publisher=BBC News Online |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110405194615/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-12881240 |archive-date=5 April 2011 |url-status=dead}} while The Independent said that "more than 100" people died,{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/accidental-explosion-at-yemen-arms-factory-kills-100-2255737.html |title=Accidental explosion at Yemen arms factory kills 100 |accessdate=29 March 2011 |date=29 March 2011 |publisher=The Independent |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121111023904/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/accidental-explosion-at-yemen-arms-factory-kills-100-2255737.html |archive-date=11 November 2012 |url-status=dead}} and CNN said that "[a]t least 121" were killed.{{cite web|url=http://www.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/meast/03/28/yemen.unrest/ |title=Ammo factory blast in Yemen kills at least 121 |accessdate=29 March 2011 |date=28 March 2011 |publisher=CNN |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121109161053/http://www.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/meast/03/28/yemen.unrest/ |archive-date=9 November 2012 |url-status=dead}} By the day after the incident, the death toll had been increased to 150.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-12902310 |title=Yemeni arms factory blast toll rises amid protests |accessdate=30 March 2011 |date=29 March 2011 |publisher=BBC News Online |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110331132038/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-12902310 |archive-date=31 March 2011 |url-status=dead}} An accurate death toll was reportedly difficult to establish, due to the condition of the bodies, many of which were badly burned. 45 people were reported injured, 27 of whom were, according to officials at a local hospital, in critical condition after the incident. Some of the injured were taken to Jaʿār for treatment, while others received treatment at a hospital in Aden.
Reaction
Abyan's Deputy Governor Saleh al-Samty placed blame on the national government for creating a lack of order in southern Yemen caused by heightened security countrywide.{{cite news|last=al-Haj|first=Ahmed|title=Blast at Yemen explosives factory kills 110|url=http://www.salon.com/news/yemen/?story=news/feature/2011/03/28/yemen_explosive_factory_deaths|accessdate=29 March 2011|newspaper=Salon|date=March 28, 2011}} The Joint Meeting Parties opposition group (JMP) blamed the incident on government military withdrawal in the south.{{cite news|last=Kasinof|first=Laura|title=Blast at Factory Follows Yemeni Forces’ Pullout|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/29/world/middleeast/29yemen.html?src=twrhp|accessdate=29 March 2011|newspaper=The New York Times|date=March 28, 2011|author2=Robert F. Worth}}
References
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Jaar Munitions Factory Explosion}}
Category:Ammunition depot fires and explosions