Two killed in Houthi missile attack on Yemeni presidential palace in Aden

Two security personnel have been killed in a Houthi missile attack targeting the presidential palace in the port city of Aden in southern Yemen, officials say. Aden serves as the seat of the internationally-recognised government.

Information Minister Moammar al-Eryani told the BBC that five ballistic missiles hit al-Maashiq Palace. He stated that the prime minister and other ministers were unhurt, but that many others were injured. The Houthis' military spokesman, Yahya Sarea, said they struck "the Saudi enemy's military operations headquarters in Aden".

Government Response and Casualties

Yemeni Prime Minister Shaya Zindani condemned the attack, calling it "cowardly" and a "continuation of their criminal behaviour". He said the government continued to carry out its duties and vowed that it would not weaken the resolve of its forces to continue operations against the Houthis on Yemen's south-western Red Sea coast and other front lines.

According to a statement released by the Ministry of Information, "The prime minister, Doctor Shaya Al-Zandani, and the members of the Government are safe after a missile attack by the Iran-backed Houthi militia against the Al-Maashiq Palace in the interim capital, Aden". Yemeni Youth Minister Nayef Saleh al-Bakri also said all cabinet ministers in Aden were unharmed and would remain in the city.

Houthi Claims and Regional Context

The Houthi-run Saba news agency said the group targeted a "military operations center" within the presidential palace, adding that "Saudi officers are leading the operations". Yahya Sarea stated the strike was part of a declared policy of "targeting Saudi military build-ups wherever they are".

A coalition led by Saudi Arabia backs the government and is providing air support for an offensive by pro-government forces against the Iran-backed Houthis. Saudi Arabia's deputy foreign minister, Rayed Krimly, accused Iran of encouraging the Houthis to escalate their conflict with the kingdom. "Iran continues to arm, train and support the Houthi militia in violation of UN Security Council resolutions," Krimly told reporters, according to AFP news agency. Iran has previously denied supplying weapons to the Houthis, stating it only supports them politically.

Escalating Violence

The attack occurred amid rising tensions. On Saturday, a Houthi missile strike killed 13 people at Riyadh's international airport, which was the deadliest attack in Saudi Arabia in more than a decade. The Saudi-led coalition said on Thursday that recent Houthi attacks, including those directed at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, demonstrate the growing threat posed by the group. Coalition spokesperson Major General Turki al-Maliki said the Houthis had launched 20 attacks on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh this month, killing 17 people and wounding 333 others.

The conflict in Yemen began in 2014 when the Houthis ousted the internationally-recognised government from Sanaa. The Saudi-led coalition intervened in 2015. A four-year-old informal ceasefire began to unravel in July, when the Houthis announced a "maritime embargo" against Saudi Arabia. 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 6 August.

Why it matters

The attack on the presidential palace in Aden highlights the intensification of the conflict between the Iran-backed Houthis and the Saudi-led coalition. With the internationally recognized government's seat under direct fire, the stability of the region and the safety of international shipping routes through the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandab Strait remain critical concerns. The UN reports that another 201,000 people have been displaced and there has been an alarming surge in suspected cholera cases.

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Sources

• bbc.com: Houthi missile attack on Yemeni presidential palace kills two, minister says
• newscord.org: Iran-Backed Houthis Strike Al-Maashiq Presidential Palace in Aden, Killing Two Security Aides: 12 outlets compared | NewsCord
• openthemagazine.com: Houthi Attack on Yemen’s Presidential Palace in Aden Leaves Two Guards Dead, Six Injured
• yemenonline.info: Yemen: Casualties in Houthi Missile Attack Targeting Presidential Palace in Aden - Yemen Online |
• lbc.co.uk: Two killed in Houthi missile attack on Yemeni presidential palace, minister says | LBC

This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.