Deadly Car Bomb Explodes outside Shiite Mosque in Sanaa

A car bomb exploded outside a Shiite mosque in the rebel-held Yemeni capital on Tuesday, killing and wounding people, witnesses said.

The bomb, at the al-Raoudh mosque in southeast Sanaa, went off as worshipers were leaving after evening prayers.

A security official confirmed the attack, saying the "bomb-rigged car had been parked near the al-Raoudh mosque."

The same source said the attack caused deaths and injuries, without being able to immediately provide exact figures.

The capital of Sunni-majority Yemen has been under the control of the Iran-backed Shiite Huthi rebels since September.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for Tuesday's bombing, which is the second within weeks against mosques in Sanaa frequented by Shiite Muslims.

The previous one was claimed by the Islamic State, a Sunni group that considers Shiites to be heretics and that has also recently bombed mosques in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.

Since overrunning the capital, the Huthi rebels have expanded their control to other parts of Yemen, forcing President Abedrabbo Manour Hadi and his government to flee to Saudi Arabia.