The Dec. 18 declaration of the new Yemeni Cabinet sparked a wave of hope among Yemenis and signaled a significant stride toward peace, at least, in Yemen's south. Unexpectedly, the sense of optimism plummeted when three blasts hit Aden International Airport as the new Yemeni Cabinet arrived from Riyadh on Dec. 30. The southern separatists and the UN-recognized government signed a Saudi-sponsored peace deal in November 2019 to form a unity government.
The explosions left more than 20 people dead and over 100 wounded; no one has claimed responsibility so far. The attack was a powerful alert that challenges facing the new Yemeni government are formidable.