Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula has apologised to the families of civilians killed in its attack on a military hospital, which left a total of 52 people dead.
The military leader of the group, Qasim al-Raymi, said in a statement that the combatant responsible had disobeyed orders not to attack medics and patients during the raid on a defence ministry compound at the beginning of December.
"Now we acknowledge our mistake and guilt,
"We offer our apology and condolences to the victims' families. We accept full responsibility for what happened in the hospital and will pay blood money for the victims' families."
Several doctors, nurses and patients, 7 of which were from Germany, India, the Phillipines, and Vietnam, were based at the military compound, but Raymi said the 9 attackers had been told not to enter the hospital.
The target of the attack was said to be a base from which drone attacks were launched. Hundreds of Yemeni civilians and fighters have died in drone attacks by US forces.