Suicide bombers kill 'at least 25' in Yemen mosque on first day of Eid

Yemen is embroiled in a bitter civil war, estimated to have killed almost 5,000 people

Blood on the ground following the attack on a mosque in Sanaa (Reuters)

Two suicide bombers blew themselves up at a busy mosque in Yemen’s capital on the first day of Eid, killing dozens.

The al-Balili mosque, run by Houthi group, in Sanaa was struck by two explosions during prayers for the Eid al-Adha celebration.

Security officials in the capital said as many as 25 people are believed dead.

No group has yet claimed responsibility for the attack.

One bomber alleged detonated expolsives inside the mosque, with the other waiting until people fled for the exit whereupon he detonated his device.

Mixed reports indicate the death toll may rise, with local media reporting high numbers of casualties.

It is the latest atrocity in a nation where more than 2,200 civilians have been killed in a bitter civil war. In total, the UN estimates that almost 5,000 have died in the conflict.

The attack also follows the Yemeni president Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi’s return from exile in Saudi Arabia after fleeing in March.

Houthi rebels, Shia Muslims from the south of the country, had made significant gains across the country but in recent months have been partially pushed back by Saudi forces. Despite this progress, the rebels have maintained control of Sanaa.

Additional reporting by Reuters