The first American was killed in the recent conflict in Yemen this week when rebels attacked the city of Aden. An Oakland, California resident, the fortysomething-year-old man was in the country visiting his wife and daughter, according to his cousin Mohammed Alazzani Friday.

Jamal al-Labani was on his way home from a mosque with his 14-year-old nephew when reportedly Shiite rebels — otherwise known as Houthis — fired mortars in the area.

Lately, the fighters have been driving back disorganized military forces still loyal to President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi, who bailed to Saudi Arabia last week. His departure was a culmination of years of resistance to his administration from both the Houthis and the al-Qaeda militants.

More from Stars and Stripes:

The death came amid complaints from many Yemeni-Americans that the U.S. government has abandoned Americans in the country on the southwestern tip of the Arabian Peninsula. In February, officials closed the U.S. Embassy, evacuated all American personnel and issued a travel warning, but they have rebuffed calls to evacuate other Americans trapped in the country.

 

Alazzani said Labani was making the short walk from the mosque to the home where he was staying when the shelling began. Labani’s nephew, who is not a U.S. citizen, was also killed, Alazzani said.

The video above shows al-Labani and his family being mourned in Walnut Creek, California.