AQAP and its local affiliate Ansar al-Sharia gained significant strength amid the Yemeni revolution in 2011, which allowed them to seize territory in southern Yemen while the central government was preoccupied.

[6][7] The Yemeni government introduced a new security plan for Sana'a on 2 December in response to the shooting, which included provisions such as banning motorcycles within the central part of the capital.

[10] One week prior, the defense ministry was warned that a major attack in Sana'a was imminent, leading to authorities allocating additional security forces at the compound.

[13][14][10] After killing the guards, an AQAP suicide bomber rammed a pickup truck loaded with 500 kg of explosives through the western gate into the complex at around 9:00 a.m. AST (UTC+03:00).

[15][4][6] The suicide bomber reportedly failed to reach his target inside the complex due to gunfire from Yemeni forces, instead blowing up near the entrance of the al-Oradi hospital.

[1] Witnesses described the initial blast violently shaking the ground near the complex and in the Bab al-Yemen district, with large plumes of smoke soon rising from the building.

[32] In a message posted on 6 December by the al-Malahem Media account on Twitter, AQAP affiliate Ansar al-Sharia claimed responsibility for conducting the attack.

"[18] It stated that the "mujahideen have heavily struck one of these rooms in Defense Ministry headquarters" as it believed the site to be a “legitimate target” due to being used by Americans against "this Muslim nation.

[23] Advisor to President Hadi Fares Al-Saqqaf said the footage was intended to show that the attack targeted a civilian facility as opposed to a military one, swaying public opinion against AQAP.

[33] The release of the footage lead to public outrage among Yemenis and even AQAP supporters, prompting the group initially deny it as fake in social media posts on the internet.

[38] However, Raymi stated that AQAP is “continuing with our jihad” and reiterated the groups claim that the Ministry of Defense was housing drone control rooms and American experts, defending it as a legitimate target.

[35][23] He warned that the group would attack other military posts which "cooperate with the American drones by spying, planting chips, providing information or offering intelligence advice".

On 12 December, several foreign embassies, companies and organisations across different parts the country, including in Sana'a, closed their doors after Yemeni authorities had informed them of possible terrorist attacks during the day.

[55]Additionally, the U.S. launched a drone strike on a car in Radda, al-Bayda governorate, targeting mid-level AQAP leader Shawqi Ali Ahmed al-Badani.