Blast at Aden presidential palace claimed by IS kills 8

 A suicide car bombing killed at least eight people at a checkpoint outside Yemen's presidential palace in the southern city of Aden on Thursday, security and medical officials said.

The blast, which also injured 15 people, was claimed by Islamic State militants.

In its claim of responsibility, circulated by supporters on social media, the group claimed that the suicide bombing was carried out by a Dutch fighter, named as Abu Hunaifa al-Hollandi.

The statement said the palace was targeted because it is the current headquarters of the “apostate tyrant Abd Rabbuh Mansour Hadi”.

Civilians and soldiers were among the dead, medical sources told AFP.

A security source said the attack appeared to target the convoy of a local businessman who was entering the presidential complex.

Sources had initially said the convoy was carrying the governor of Aden, Aidarus al-Zubaidi, but he later told AFP he was not in the area at the time of the attack.

Witnesses said the blast had damaged at least six vehicles and a nearby mosque.

Zubaidi survived a car bombing earlier this month – he was appointed in December following the killing of his predecessor, Jaafar Saad, in a previous bombing in Aden that was also claimed by Islamic State.

Aden has become the temporary headquarters for President Hadi's government as it battles to retake large parts of the country from Houthi rebels, who currently control the capital Sanaa.

But the city has also seen a growing militant presence, with al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, long active in Yemen, and IS apparently vying for influence.