Masked gunmen, reportedly linked to the Southern Transitional Council (STC), stormed the Omar bin al-Khattab Mosque in Aden's Mansoura district today during dawn prayers. They opened fire and assaulted Sheikh Mohammed Al-Kazemi, the mosque's imam, before abducting him to an unknown location. The incident has ignited widespread official and public condemnation.

Eyewitnesses described a terrifying scene as assailants, in mixed civilian and military attire, entered the mosque after Fajr prayers. Videos circulating online show gunmen fanning out inside while others violently seized Sheikh Al-Kazemi in front of shocked worshippers, including children.

Despite no immediate claim of responsibility, Aden Governorate authorities quickly ordered an investigation. Governor Ahmed Lamlas directed the Aden Security Director, Joint Operations Authority, and the STC's Presidential Operations to conduct an immediate inquiry and pursue legal action against those involved.

Separately, STC media reported that Brigadier General Abdulrahman Al-Muharrami, a Presidential Leadership Council member, has also ordered an investigation. A source close to Al-Muharrami stated he is personally monitoring the case and has instructed his security team to investigate the Mansoura police department director and other officers involved, emphasizing accountability.

The incident has drawn significant anger. Nayef Al-Bakri, the Minister of Youth and Sports in Yemen's internationally recognized government, visited the mosque in solidarity. On Facebook, he condemned the "unfortunate incident" as an "armed intrusion and shooting... and the forceful arrest of the mosque's imam... without any legal justification." He met with dismayed worshippers who attested to Sheikh Al-Kazemi's "good reputation" and "moderation."

Al-Bakri denounced these "irresponsible actions" as a "violation of the sanctity of houses of God and a terrorization of peaceful citizens." He stressed that law enforcement must operate through "legal and official channels, not through storming mosques and using unjustified force."

Prominent human rights lawyer Huda Al-Sarari labeled the raid a "disgrace and a moral, legal, and humanitarian scandal." On Facebook, she described a "masked, heavily armed group" terrorizing worshippers with gunfire before abducting the imam "as if he were a war criminal."
Al-Sarari asserted that the perpetrators are "not a security force, but an armed formation not subject to any judicial or civilian authority," and their methods resemble "gang behavior." She linked the incident to a pattern of violations by "counter-terrorism forces" and armed groups known for torture and abduction.

Calling for an end to "uncontrolled violence" in Aden, Al-Sarari stated the incident is a "flagrant violation of Yemeni laws, the constitution, and international conventions." She demanded Sheikh Mohammed Al-Kazemi's immediate release, a swift and impartial investigation, and accountability for all involved in the crime.