Houthi missiles hit Yemen's presidential palace in Aden, killing at least two

Strike on the presidential palace

Missiles hit the presidential palace complex of Yemen's internationally recognized government in Aden on Thursday, 15 October. Witnesses reported at least six explosions near the palace, and an AFP journalist saw smoke rise over the site while ambulances drove toward it. Residents fled the area in panic. It was the first attack on the complex since the civil war flared back to life in July.

Casualty figures vary

Death tolls differed across the day. Europa Press reported that the government confirmed two security guards dead and six wounded, citing Youth minister Salé al-Bakri speaking to Al Arabiya. Yemen's justice ministry gave De Standaard the same count of two security agents killed. Government military sources told AFP that at least four people were killed and 10 wounded, while a BBC Persian report published late on Thursday gave five dead and many wounded. The prime minister, Shaya al-Zindani, and other ministers were reported safe. A government minister who spoke anonymously said the prime minister had been in the palace during the attack but was unharmed, though the AP said it had no immediate confirmation of that report.

Houthi claims and targets

The Houthis said through their military spokesman, Yahya Saree, that they had attacked a military operations headquarters run by the Saudi enemy inside the palace grounds. Houthi-affiliated media described the target as a headquarters directed by Saudi officers. Saree said any Saudi military presence in Yemen counts as a legitimate target. Government officials said three missiles hit a coalition command center and two more struck the coalition headquarters on the palace complex, adding that there were Yemeni and Saudi casualties without giving a toll. Government forces also said the Houthis fired several ballistic missiles at the city of Marib.

Wider escalation with Saudi Arabia

The palace strike follows a deadlier attack on Saudi territory. On 10 October, a Houthi missile strike on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh killed 13 people and injured about 300, according to n-tv. BBC Russian described it as the deadliest attack in Saudi Arabia in more than 10 years.

The Houthis have also struck airports, oil and gas facilities and military bases in Saudi Arabia in response to attacks on territory they control, including the capital Sanaa. Saudi deputy foreign minister Rajed Krimly accused Iran of arming, training and supporting Houthi forces in breach of UN Security Council resolutions, and of encouraging the escalation in the current phase of the conflict. Iranian authorities had not responded to those accusations, and Tehran has previously denied arming the Houthis, saying it offers only political support.

Front lines and diplomacy

The Saudi-led coalition is giving air support to government forces pushing against Houthi positions on the southwest Red Sea coast and on other fronts. The Houthis recently seized more territory on that coast. Prime minister Shaya al-Zindani condemned the palace attack as a continuation of criminal acts and said the government would keep carrying out its duties. According to BBC Persian, the European Union and Gulf states postponed a joint meeting that had been planned for Saudi Arabia, and sporting and cultural events were cancelled.