Houthi attack targets presidential palace in Aden, Saudi Arabia accuses Iran of fueling escalation

A Houthi missile attack targeted the presidential palace in Aden, killing five people and wounding 16 others, including guards and civilian staff. Yemeni Prime Minister Shaya al-Zindani was inside the palace but unharmed. The Houthis said the attack targeted the Saudi operations headquarters in response to its presence in Yemen. Saudi Arabia accused Iran of encouraging the escalation and arming the Houthis. This is the first attack on the palace since the resumption of escalation in July following the collapse of the 2022 truce.

Reports indicate that a Houthi missile attack targeted the presidential palace in the city of Aden, southern Yemen, resulting in five deaths and 16 injuries, according to a tally announced by Yemeni authorities. Yemeni Health Minister Qasim Buhaibeh said the dead and wounded were members of the guard and civilian staff. A Yemeni official said the attack targeted a headquarters of the Saudi-backed 'Shield of the Homeland' forces with three missiles, and the headquarters of the Saudi-led coalition forces inside the presidential complex with two missiles. The official added that Yemeni Prime Minister Shaya al-Zindani was inside the palace at the time of the attack but was unharmed. Meanwhile, Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree announced that the attack targeted the Saudi war operations headquarters in Aden, considering it part of the response to the Saudi military presence in Yemen. The attack is the first to target the presidential palace in Aden since the resumption of military escalation in July, following the collapse of the truce that had been in place since 2022. In response, a Saudi official accused Iran of encouraging the Houthis to escalate their attacks against it, pointing to Tehran's continued arming, training, and support of the group, considering this a violation of UN Security Council resolutions. Saudi Deputy Foreign Minister for Public Diplomacy Walid al-Qurumli said Riyadh had sought a diplomatic solution.