Yemen’s Houthi rebels launched a missile and drone attack on the presidential palace complex in Aden on Thursday, resulting in five deaths and 16 injuries, officials said. The strike targeted the Al-Maashiq presidential compound, which serves as the seat of Yemen’s internationally recognized government and hosts command centers used by both Yemeni forces and the Saudi-led coalition supporting them.
The attack marked the first strike on the presidential palace since fighting intensified in July, following the collapse of a ceasefire in Yemen’s long-running civil war. Eyewitnesses in Aden reported hearing explosions and seeing smoke rising near the site. Yemen’s Prime Minister Shaya al-Zindani and other cabinet members were present during the attack but escaped unharmed, according to government sources.
Yemeni health minister Qasim Buhlaibeh confirmed the casualties included guards and civilian employees working at the palace complex. The government condemned the attack as a “cowardly” act targeting civilian sites and personnel.
The Houthis, who are aligned with Iran, claimed responsibility for the strike. A Houthi military spokesperson stated that the missiles targeted what they described as the Saudi military operations headquarters in Aden, accusing the coalition of using the compound to coordinate military activities. The Houthi-run news agency also claimed the site contained weapons depots. These assertions could not be independently verified.
Saudi Arabia, which leads a coalition backing Yemen’s government, blamed Iran for encouraging the recent escalation of violence. Saudi officials highlighted a series of Houthi attacks on southern Saudi territory, including drones intercepted over cities such as Khamis Mushait. A strike on Riyadh’s international airport earlier this month killed 13 people and wounded hundreds, marking one of the deadliest attacks on the kingdom in over a decade. The Saudi-led coalition called on the Houthis to immediately cease operations targeting civilians and infrastructure.
The conflict, which began in 2015, has entrenched Yemen in one of the world’s most severe humanitarian crises, with millions dependent on international aid. Recent gains by the Iran-backed Houthis along the Red Sea coast have challenged the government’s control, with Saudi air support failing to reverse those advances.
Though Saudi Arabia and Iran reached a diplomatic thaw earlier this year mediated by China, the violence risks undermining the fragile detente. Saudi officials say they remain in communication with Tehran but are skeptical of Iran’s willingness to make concessions, given the ongoing support Tehran provides to the Houthis.
Meanwhile, Yemeni government forces reported additional Houthi missile launches at the central city of Marib, a strategic area rich in oil resources, reflecting the sustained intensity of the conflict.