ADEN (Reuters) - Two suicide car bombs exploded at an army headquarters in eastern Yemen on Tuesday, killing five people, security sources said.
Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), which operates in eastern Yemen, claimed responsibility for the attack, saying on its Twitter account that it had killed and wounded dozens.
Gunshots rang out amid the blasts at the compound in Seyoun, the second largest city in Hadramout province, said officials. Witnesses saw plumes of smoke rising into the air.
Security officials said the bombers' cars detonated before they could enter the compound and the defense ministry sent out a text message saying soldiers had foiled the attack.
Eight people were wounded in the assault on the First Military Command base, the security sources told Reuters.
Western and Gulf Arab countries are worried that instability in Yemen could strengthen AQAP, considered the most dangerous branch of the global militant group, which has also mounted attacks against top oil exporter Saudi Arabia and has plotted to bring down international airliners.
(Reporting by Mohammed Mukhashaf; Writing by Noah Browning; Editing by Paul Tait and Andrew Heavens)