Historical eventDecember 52013

2013 Yemeni Ministry of Defense attack

Militants attack a Defense Ministry compound in Sanaa, Yemen, killing at least 56 people and injuring 200 others.

Everything on December 5Original source

In context

When
Thursday, December 5 201313 years ago
Category
Historical eventA dated happening — a battle, treaty, launch, discovery, disaster or decision — recorded on this calendar day.
Era
21st century · 2010s
Recorded from
Wikipedia “On this day” feed

At a glance

Dates: From 2013-12-05.

Place: Sanaa, Yemen.

Type: suicide car bombing and mass shooting.

Deaths reported: 56. Casualties: 200.

What came before

Part of: terrorism in Yemen and Al-Qaeda insurgency in Yemen.

What happened

On 5 December 2013, a coordinated terrorist attack occurred targeting the Ministry of Defense complex in Sanaa, Yemen. Heavily armed militants utilized a car bomb to breach the gates of the complex before storming it and occupying a hospital within it. The attack, which killed 52 people and injured 167, was claimed by Ansar al-Sharia, an affiliate of al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP).

December 5 through the years

Other entries on the same calendar day, in order.

  1. 1994Budapest Memorandum
  2. 1995Azerbaijan Airlines Flight A-56
  3. 1995Sri Lankan civil war
  4. 2001Space Shuttle Endeavour
  5. 2005Civil Partnership Act 2004
  6. 20052005 Lake Tanganyika earthquake
  7. 2006Frank Bainimarama
  8. 2007Westroads Mall shooting
  9. 20132013 Yemeni Ministry of Defense attack
  10. 2014Exploration Flight Test-1
  11. 2017International Olympic Committee

Also in 2013

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  • September 18Via RailA VIA Rail train crashes into a double-decker bus at a train station in Ottawa, Canada, killing six people and injuring 35 others.
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Everything we record for 2013 →

Sources

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“2013 Yemeni Ministry of Defense attack”, What's On This Date, https://whatsonthisdate.com/app/event/2013-yemeni-ministry-of-defense-attack-2013-december-5, accessed October 26, 2026.

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Questions about this entry

When did 2013 Yemeni Ministry of Defense attack happen?

December 5 2013 — 13 years ago, on a Thursday.

Where does this text come from?

Wikipedia “On this day” feed. Summaries are short adaptations that link back to the source, not reprints.

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