Violence flared once again in southern Yemen as a barrage of five ballistic missiles struck the presidential palace in the port city of Aden. Information Minister Moammar al-Eryani confirmed that two security personnel were killed in the assault on al-Maashiq Palace, while several others sustained injuries. Despite the scale of the attack, which left plumes of smoke visible across the skyline, the prime minister and other high ranking cabinet members escaped without harm.
Taking responsibility for the operation, Houthi military spokesman Yahya Sarea claimed the targets were military operations headquarters used by Saudi forces. This strike comes amid a deepening cycle of retaliation between the Iran backed rebels and a Saudi led coalition that provides critical air support to Yemen’s internationally recognized government. Prime Minister Shaya Zindani denounced the move as cowardly and criminal, insisting that such aggression would not deter government forces from continuing their current offensives along the Red Sea coast.
The escalation follows a period of intense instability where both sides have targeted key infrastructure and strategic corridors. Recently, Houthi missiles caused significant casualties at Riyadh’s international airport, prompting Saudi officials to accuse Iran of fueling the fire by providing arms and training to the militia. While Tehran maintains it only offers political support and has expressed willingness to mediate peace talks, regional tensions remain high as fighting intensifies around the vital Bab al-Mandab shipping strait.
This latest bloodshed adds to a staggering humanitarian toll in a country ravaged by civil war since 2014. With thousands dead or wounded in recent months alone and hundreds of thousands displaced, international observers warn of a collapsing healthcare system currently struggling with a surge in cholera cases. As pro government forces push back against rebel advances, there are few signs that a lasting ceasefire will return to replace the volatile state of warfare gripping the nation.