Houthi missiles strike Yemen's presidential palace in Aden; PM unharmed

Houthi forces fired missiles at the Maashiq presidential palace compound in Aden on Thursday, striking the seat of Yemen's internationally recognized government in the southern port city, according to Reuters and Agence France-Presse.

The prime minister and cabinet members at the complex were not hurt, Reuters reported, citing Yemen's information minister, Moammar al-Eryani, who said five missiles were fired.

Casualty figures vary

Early accounts of the toll differed and could not be independently confirmed:

• Reuters, citing two government officials: two security guards killed.
• AFP, citing government military sources: four killed and 10 wounded.
• Later reports compiled by Just Security, citing Yemeni health officials via The New York Times and Reuters: five killed and at least 16 injured.

Witnesses told Reuters they heard loud explosions near the palace, and an AFP journalist saw smoke rising from the site.

Houthis cite Saudi target

The Houthi-run Saba news agency said the group targeted a military operations headquarters run by Saudi officers inside the compound, along with weapons depots. Reuters said it could not verify that claim. Government forces also reported ballistic missile fire toward the central city of Marib.

According to AFP, Yemen's civil war flared again in July after a long truce collapsed. The Iran-backed Houthis have since seized territory along the Red Sea coast, and a government counteroffensive backed by Saudi air power has not reversed those gains. The South China Morning Post, carrying AFP's report, said Riyadh blamed Tehran for the escalation, which unfolds against a wider regional war that began with US-Israeli strikes on Iran in February.