A suicide bomber has killed at least 45 soldiers at a military base in Yemen, according to government officials.

The deadly blast in Aden, which is under the control of the internationally recognised government in exile in Saudi Arabia, targeted troops waiting to collect their pay, it has been reported.

People in Yemen are starving

Islamic State militants have repeatedly claimed responsibility for carrying out attacks on military personnel in the southern port city.

The militants have taken advantage of Yemen's brutal civil war between the government and the Iran-aligned Houthi rebels.

:: Johnson charms the Gulf after 'proxy wars' rebuke


Saudi Arabia intervened in the conflict in March, 2015, to battle the government's enemies.

Johnson on message in Gulf

However, it has failed to oust the rebels from the capital Sanaa despite thousands of airstrikes that have resulted in the deaths of hundreds of civilians as the population struggles with starvation and disease.

Britain has lent military assistance, helping the Saudis select targets, which the Ministry of Defence insists it is to ensure the country complies with the rules of war.

The UK is also a massive exporter of arms to the country.

Boris gets slapped down over Saudi comments

Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson has previously said sales would continue because there was no clear evidence the weapons were being used in contravention of international law.

However, he recently spark controversy after he accused British ally Saudi Arabia of "abusing" Islam and "puppeteering" proxy wars in the Middle East.

It led to a sharp slapdown by the Prime Minister, who just days earlier had been in Bahrain to "turbo-charge" the UK's trade relations with the Gulf.