Two car bomb explosions targeting Shiite Houthi gunmen killed 40 people and left dozens wounded in Yemen's central province of al-Bayda Tuesday evening, a government official said.
One blast took place near a building held by the Shiite Houthi group and the other one hit an education faculty in Radda town of al-Bayda province, Xinhua quoted the official as saying on condition of anonymity.
"The initial reports indicate that the bombings claimed the lives of 40 people, including more than 20 children," the source added.
A tribal source told Xinhua over phone that "two explosive-laden cars targeted an office of the Shiite Houthi gunmen and destroyed a nearby college, causing deaths and injuries."
Local medics confirmed the death toll, adding that the number was likely to rise as they were still searching for victims at the bombing site and several of the wounded were in serious condition.
No group has yet claimed responsibility for the blasts.
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Radaa was a bastion of the Yemen-based Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) and fell into control of the Shiite Houthi group in late October after deadly clashes between the two sides.
The Houthis clashed with Sunni tribes and the AQAP in the past two months in the country's southern regions where the group was trying to expand its influence.
The Shiite Houthi group took over the town in September following days of clashes with government troops that left more than 400 people dead. Security has then deteriorated in Sanaa.
On Oct 9, an Al Qaeda suicide bombing attack targeting a Shiite Houthi rally in downtown Sanaa killed at least 47 people.