A suicide bombing has killed or wounded roughly 400 people in the Yemeni capital of Sanaa.

Quoting military officials and medical staffers, Arab satellite TV Al Jazeera and other foreign media reported that the attack took place near the presidential palace in the central part of the capital, killing 96 and injuring roughly 300 others.

A terrorist disguised as a soldier carried out the bombing while Yemeni soldiers were rehearsing a parade ahead of the 22nd anniversary of the country’s independence.

Al Qaeda claimed responsibility for the attack, calling it revenge for what it called a U.S.-backed war on its followers.

The Yemeni government led by President Abd Rabbo Hadi Mansour has conducted a massive offensive to eliminate Al Qaeda forces dominating some southern regions of the country.