An anonymous Yemeni minister told AFP that the attack occurred on 15/10, when three Houthi ballistic missiles struck a government command center. Two other missiles also hit a command center belonging to the Saudi-led coalition.
All structures are located within the Presidential Palace complex in Aden, the interim capital of Yemen's internationally recognized government.
Smoke rises at what is believed to be the Presidential Palace area in Aden, Yemen, on 15/10. *Video: X/MenchOsint*
The anonymous official stated that there were casualties among both Yemeni government and Saudi forces, though specific numbers were not provided. Yemeni Prime Minister Shaya al-Zindani was at the complex during the attack but was "unharmed".
Prime Minister al-Zindani later described the attack as "a continuation of a series of criminal acts" targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure.
Yemeni Health Minister Qasim Buhaibeh announced that the attack resulted in five deaths and 16 injuries, adding that the victims were "members of the security guard and civilian employees".
Yahya Saree, a Houthi spokesperson, declared that their forces attacked the Saudi military operations headquarters in Aden, as part of a policy to "attack Saudi reinforcement forces wherever they are present".
The Houthi-controlled SABA news agency reported that the headquarters was run by Saudi officers and contained numerous weapon depots.
Eyewitnesses reported significant activity at the scene, with an AFP reporter observing columns of smoke and Aden residents hearing multiple explosions during the attack. This marks the first Houthi assault on the Presidential Palace complex in Aden since Yemen's civil war reignited in July.
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Houthi missiles at a military parade in Sanaa, Yemen, in 2023. *Photo: AFP*
Saudi Arabia and Yemen's internationally recognized government have recently faced continuous attacks from Houthi forces, shifting the focus of the Middle East conflict to Yemen. The conflict escalated in late February when the US and Israel launched strikes against Iran, a nation that supports the Houthi movement.
The armed group has recently gained control of several territories along the Red Sea. A counter-offensive by Yemeni government forces, supported by Saudi air power, has not yet managed to reverse these advances.
On 15/10, Saudi Arabia accused Iran of encouraging conflict escalation, stating that Tehran continues to arm and train the Houthi. Riyadh indicated that communication between the two sides persists, but assessed that Tehran appears unwilling to compromise.
By Pham Giang (According to AFP, Reuters)
