A Houthi missile and drone attack on the presidential palace in Aden killed five people and injured 16, according to Yemen's health minister. The prime minister and cabinet members were unharmed.
At least five people were killed and 16 wounded on Thursday in a Houthi missile and drone attack on the presidential palace in Aden, Yemen’s interim capital, according to Yemen's health minister. The palace is used by the country's internationally recognised government and the Saudi-led coalition that supports it.
Witnesses reported at least six explosions near the al-Maashiq palace complex. While initial reports varied, with some sources citing four deaths, the final count provided by Yemen's health minister was five dead and 16 injured. Yemeni Health Minister Qasim Buhaibeh stated that those killed and injured included security personnel guarding the complex and civilian employees.
Yemeni Information Minister Moammar al-Eryani said the Houthis targeted the al-Maashiq presidential palace with five ballistic missiles. He confirmed that Prime Minister Shaya Zindani and other ministers were unhurt. A government minister, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Zindani was inside the complex when the attack occurred but was unharmed.
The Houthis claimed responsibility for the strike. Their military spokesperson, Brigade General Yahya Saree, said the group struck "the Saudi enemy's military operations headquarters in Aden." Saree stated the attack was part of a declared policy of "targeting Saudi military build-ups wherever they are."
Prime Minister Zindani condemned the attack as "cowardly" and a "continuation of their criminal behaviour." He vowed that the government would not weaken its resolve to continue operations against the Houthis. The Cabinet said the strike would not weaken the government’s determination to fulfill its national and constitutional duties.
The attack occurred amid broader escalation between the Houthis and the Saudi-led coalition. Earlier on Thursday, the Saudi-led coalition said it intercepted a cruise missile over the Saudi province of Medina. The Houthis denied involvement in the Medina incident, noting their previous pledge not to attack airports in the holy cities of Mecca and Medina.
Coalition spokesperson Major General Turki al-Maliki said the Houthis had attacked King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh 20 times since the beginning of October. Al-Maliki stated these attacks had killed 17 people and wounded 333 others. He accused the Houthis of acquiring advanced military technology with assistance from regional parties.
Saudi Arabia's deputy foreign minister, Rayed Krimly, accused Iran of encouraging the Houthis. "Iran continues to arm, train and support the Houthi militia in violation of UN Security Council resolutions," Krimly said. Iran has previously denied supplying weapons to the Houthis, stating it only supports them politically.
The conflict has severely impacted civilians in Yemen. The World Food Programme said it can no longer reach more than 600,000 people in the besieged city of Taiz who depend on aid. Residents reported shortages of flour, cooking gas, and fuel.
The International Committee of the Red Cross said Taiz has seen some of the "highest casualty burdens" in the country. According to the government's health ministry, at least 1,282 people have been killed and 5,890 injured in the fighting in Yemen since August 6. The UN reported that another 201,000 people have been displaced.
Sources
This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.
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