Houthi missiles strike Saudi-led forces HQ at presidential palace in Aden

Houthi missiles struck the presidential palace complex in Aden on Thursday, marking a violent escalation in the revived civil conflict that has shattered years of relative calm in Yemen. Witnesses reported at least six explosions near Al-Maashiq palace, sending plumes of thick smoke over the southern port city and sparking panic among residents who fled the area.

According to the Aden-based Saba news agency, the Iran-backed Houthi rebels utilized a combination of missiles and drones in the assault. Yemeni government sources provided varying casualty tolls from the incident. An official speaking to the Associated Press reported at least two deaths and six injuries, while government military sources cited by Agence-France Press noted four fatalities and 10 wounded. Later updates from the country's health minister, as reported by ABC News, placed the toll at five dead and 16 injured.

A government minister speaking on condition of anonymity stated that Prime Minister Shaya al-Zindani was present at the complex during the attack but was not harmed in any way and that cabinet members remained safe. Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree claimed responsibility for the operation, stating the group bombed what they described as a Saudi military operations headquarters located within the presidential grounds.

Expanding Regional Conflict and Infrastructure Threats

The strike on Aden forms part of a wider campaign of ballistic missile and drone attacks launched by the Houthis against Saudi Arabia and allied military positions. Coalition spokesperson Turki al-Maliki briefed reporters that the rebels have launched numerous strikes against regional targets, turning Saudi civilian and economic infrastructure into pressure points in the wider regional conflict.

Target Location	Reported Impact / Casualties
King Khalid International Airport (Riyadh)	20 attacks this month; 17 dead, 333 wounded
Abha Airport (South-western Saudi Arabia)	Attacks resulted in 3 dead and 28 wounded
Presidential Palace (Aden)	Command center struck; varying reports of 2 to 5 dead

Coalition forces reported intercepting multiple aerial threats, including a cruise missile over Medina province and drones over Khamis Mushait and Saudi Arabia's eastern province. Flight tracking platforms and local authorities confirmed that dozens of flights were delayed or canceled at major hubs such as Jeddah and Riyadh, while Saudi Arabia extended the suspension of operations at King Khalid International Airport following repeated strikes.

The Houthis have reiterated warnings to commercial airlines, declaring Saudi airspace and airports unsafe—while carving out an exemption for the airspace above the holy cities of Mecca and Medina. Earlier in the week, Saudi officials reported that the headquarters of oil giant Saudi Aramco sustained building damage from Houthi projectile fire.

Historical Context and Ground Fighting

The latest violence follows a breakdown of the 2022 truce that had brought four years of relative quiet to Yemen. Civil war originally erupted in 2014 when the Houthis seized the capital Sanaa, driving the internationally recognized government southward. A Saudi-led military coalition intervened the following year, leading to a prolonged stalemate before diplomatic channels paused the active frontline.

Renewed fighting escalated last month when government forces launched a military campaign to recapture lost territory near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. Simultaneously, humanitarian agencies have expressed alarm over conditions in Taiz, Yemen's third-largest city, where residents face severe shortages of basic necessities amid a tightening Houthi siege.

Coalition officials maintain that Iran continues to supply advanced military technology, including ballistic missiles, drones, and explosive-laden fast boats, in violation of a United Nations arms embargo. Tehran has consistently denied direct involvement in arming the rebel movement.

Next Steps

As repatriation efforts and regional security consultations continue, the Saudi-led coalition stated it has destroyed dozens of weapon storage facilities and launch platforms in Yemen's mountainous terrain. Yemeni government officials remain positioned in secure locations as aid organizations warn of worsening humanitarian conditions across contested zones like Taiz, while international aviation bodies evaluate ongoing airspace safety restrictions.