Houthi rebels claimed responsibility for targeting Saudi military assets in a missile attack on the interim seat of Yemen's internationally recognized government in Aden on Thursday, October 15. The attack reportedly involved five missiles and resulted in the deaths of two members of Prime Minister Shaya al-Zindani's security detail, while the Prime Minister and other cabinet officials were unharmed. Witnesses reported explosions near the al-Maashiq Palace, which houses the government.
Earlier in the day, the Saudi-led coalition stated that it had intercepted a cruise missile aimed at the Medina region, home to significant Islamic sites. The Houthis have previously pledged not to target airports in Mecca and Medina. Additionally, Saudi authorities reported that a drone was destroyed over a major oil-producing area in the Eastern province.
The ongoing conflict has seen a resurgence of Houthi attacks, with the coalition noting that 20 separate Houthi attacks targeted King Khaled International Airport in Riyadh in October, resulting in 17 fatalities, including 13 from a single strike last Saturday. The UN Security Council condemned the Houthi attacks, labeling them as reckless.
In related developments, Iran reported an oil tanker caught fire in the Gulf of Oman, and a cargo vessel sank in the Strait of Hormuz after allegedly hitting a mine. The US military has not commented on these incidents, which follow reports of attacks on shipping in the region.
The Houthi military spokesperson stated that the missile strikes targeted what they described as Saudi military operations headquarters in Aden. The civil war in Yemen has escalated since September, with the Houthis capturing key territory along the Red Sea coast and continuing to launch attacks on Saudi Arabia despite coalition airstrikes and government counter-offensives.