Houthi missile strikes target Yemen’s presidential palace in Aden

At least five people have been killed in the vicinity of the al-Maashiq presidential palace in Yemen’s port city of Aden following missile strikes attributed to the Houthi movement. The Yemeni health minister reported that five individuals were killed and 16 others injured in the attack on Thursday. Yemeni Information Minister Moammar al-Eryani stated on social media that the Houthis targeted the palace with five missiles. The government confirmed that Prime Minister Maeen Abdulmalik and other officials were unharmed, although two bodyguards were killed. Smoke was observed rising from the area around the palace, which serves as the headquarters for the Saudi-backed government. Al Jazeera correspondents noted that explosions occurred near the palace, marking a significant escalation in hostilities. Al Jazeera’s Yousef Mawry, reporting from Sanaa, remarked that these attacks represent a new level of aggression from the Houthis, indicating a potential intensification of conflict that could involve other regional powers. The missile strikes occurred amid ongoing clashes in Taiz, where Houthi forces are reportedly besieging the city. Control of Taiz and the Bab al-Mandeb strait is strategically important for both sides. Pro-government forces claimed to be repelling a Houthi assault on Dhubab airport. Aid agencies have warned that the violence in Taiz is straining the healthcare system, with the Ministry of Public Health recently issuing a warning about a potential humanitarian catastrophe. The Saudi-led coalition reported that King Khalid International Airport has faced at least 20 Houthi attacks in the past 11 days, with other airports and facilities also targeted. Major-General Turki al-Maliki, spokesperson for the coalition, stated that Houthi attacks have resulted in 17 deaths and over 300 injuries. He also accused the Houthis of acquiring ballistic missiles from regional states. Mohamad Elmasry, a professor at the Doha Institute for Graduate Studies, commented that the coalition's press conference aimed to address perceived military shortcomings and the implications for Saudi deterrence, while also noting that the Houthis face a negative perception from the global community for targeting civilian infrastructure.