The Iran-backed Houthi militant group has targeted the Al-Ma’ashiq Presidential Palace in the city of Aden. The attack resulted in five deaths and left 16 others injured, as confirmed by Yemen’s Minister of Public Health and Population, Qasim Mohammed Buhaibeh. Fierce fighting is currently underway in the country between Houthi forces and the government. The Yemeni government stated that the Prime Minister and members of his cabinet narrowly escaped the Houthi missile attack on the Al-Ma’ashiq Presidential Palace.
According to an Al Jazeera report, Houthi spokesperson Yahya Saree claimed responsibility for the attack, which took place on Thursday. He stated, “Bombing the Saudi enemy’s war operations headquarters in Aden is part of our declared policy to target Saudi activities wherever they may be. We consider any military presence of the Saudi enemy—wherever it exists—to be directed against us.”
Rashad al-Alimi, Chairman of Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council, described this attack as part of a series of strikes targeting airports and oil facilities in both Yemen and Saudi Arabia. Al-Alimi has instructed government forces to take necessary measures to secure state institutions. He noted that the “Yemen’s Rise” (Yemen Al-Nahda) operation, launched this month, is progressing toward its objectives—namely, restoring state institutions and extending government authority across the entire national territory, with the ultimate goal of reaching the capital, Sana’a.
According to Al Arabiya, Yemen’s Minister of Youth and Sports, Nayef Saleh al-Bakri, confirmed that all ministers present in Aden are safe. He added that neither the Prime Minister nor his cabinet colleagues intend to leave Aden following the attack. Meanwhile, the Yemeni government army has claimed that it carried out 1,250 strikes against Houthi positions over the past 24 hours. Majed al-Nujaili, a spokesperson for the government forces, stated on X that fighter jets, drones, artillery, and rocket launchers were employed in these operations. 150 Houthi vehicles were destroyed. These attacks have inflicted significant losses on the Houthis in Taiz.
Saudi Arabia has accused the Houthis of committing war crimes, alleging that the Houthi rebels are endangering sacred Muslim sites and pilgrims. Meanwhile, the U.S. Embassy in Saudi Arabia has issued a warning regarding potential attacks on Saudi airports and has restricted travel for its staff. Separately, two airstrikes have targeted Houthi positions in Dhi al-Barih and Jaba, located in the Taiz governorate of Yemen.
