Houthis strike Yemen presidential palace with missiles, four killed

Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels launched a missile attack on the presidential palace complex in the southern port city of Aden on Thursday, killing at least two security guards, even as the country's Prime Minister and Cabinet ministers escaped unharmed, government officials said.

The attack targeted the Maashiq presidential palace complex, which houses Yemen's internationally recognised government, marking a significant escalation in the renewed conflict between the Houthis and Saudi-backed government forces.

Yemen's Information Minister Moammar al-Eryani said the Houthis fired five missiles at the complex, where the Prime Minister and several Cabinet members were present when the attack occurred.

Two government officials confirmed the deaths of two security guards, while the Prime Minister and ministers were reported safe.

However, three government military sources separately told AFP that at least four people had been killed and 10 others injured in the strikes. The differing casualty figures could not immediately be reconciled.

Witnesses reported a series of powerful explosions around the palace, triggering panic among residents in nearby neighbourhoods.

𝗠𝘂𝗹𝘁𝗶𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗹𝗼𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗿𝗼𝗰𝗸 𝗔𝗱𝗲𝗻

According to eyewitness accounts, at least six explosions were heard near the presidential complex on Thursday.

A security official said two explosions occurred on a hill overlooking Maashiq Palace, while two others were reported near a security gate.

The explosions sent residents fleeing from surrounding areas as fears of further attacks spread across the city.

Aden serves as the interim seat of Yemen's internationally recognised government, although several senior officials continue to reside outside the country because of the prolonged civil war.

The palace complex is among the most sensitive government installations in the city, and attacks directly targeting it have been relatively rare.

The latest strike came amid intensified military confrontations between the Houthis and the Saudi-led coalition supporting Yemen's government.

𝗛𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗰𝗹𝗮𝗶𝗺 𝗦𝗮𝘂𝗱𝗶 𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗳𝗮𝗰𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝘁𝗮𝗿𝗴𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗱

The Houthis claimed responsibility for the missile strikes, saying they had targeted a military operations headquarters allegedly operated by Saudi officers inside the presidential complex.

The Houthi-controlled Saba news agency, citing a military official, reported that the operation also targeted weapons depots within the compound.

However, the claims concerning the military installations and the extent of damage could not be independently verified.

Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree said the strike formed part of the group's declared policy of targeting Saudi military deployments.

The rebels maintained that their operations would continue against Saudi-associated military targets amid the escalating confrontation.

The attack reflected the widening scope of Houthi operations, which have increasingly targeted military and infrastructure facilities associated with Saudi Arabia and its allies.

𝗔𝘁𝘁𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗱 𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘄𝗲𝗱 𝗿𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗳𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴

The missile strikes came as fighting intensified between the Houthis and the Saudi-led coalition following a period of relative calm under the truce reached in 2022.

In recent days, the rebels have claimed attacks on airports, military installations and energy infrastructure in Saudi Arabia.

The Saudi-led coalition has accused the Houthis of attempting to strike several airports, ports and oil facilities, raising concerns about the security of civilian infrastructure across the region.

The renewed hostilities have also spread to strategically important areas around the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a major maritime passage connecting the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden.

Government forces backed by the coalition have been engaged in operations against Houthi positions as both sides seek to consolidate control over contested territory.

Earlier this month, Houthi missiles were also reported near Aden's airport, highlighting the increasing vulnerability of the southern city to long-range attacks.

𝗬𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻'𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗹𝗶𝗰𝘁 𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝗽𝗵𝗮𝘀𝗲

Yemen has remained divided between the internationally recognised government and the Houthis, who control the capital, Sanaa, and substantial territory in the country's north.

Saudi Arabia has supported the internationally recognised government, while the Houthis are aligned with Iran.

The latest escalation has renewed concerns about the humanitarian consequences of the conflict, which has displaced large numbers of civilians and placed severe pressure on essential services.

Thursday's attack on the presidential complex underscores the vulnerability of government installations in Aden despite security arrangements around the interim capital.

Although Yemen's Prime Minister and Cabinet members survived the missile strikes, the deaths of security personnel and the reported damage near the palace highlight the growing risks associated with the renewed fighting.

The full extent of casualties and damage remained unclear as authorities assessed the aftermath of the attack.