On Thursday, the Houthis (Ansar Allah) fired a missile at the Al-Maashiq Presidential Palace in the city of Aden, Yemen, killing five people. This attack is the first of its kind in the ongoing clashes between the Houthis and Saudi Arabia. The Al-Maashiq Palace is the headquarters of the Yemeni government, which is supported by Saudi Arabia and internationally recognized.
Casualties and Reactions
The Yemeni Minister of Information, Muammar Al-Eryani, announced that Yemen's Prime Minister, Maeen Abdulmalik, and cabinet members are safe following the attack. Eyewitnesses reported hearing loud explosions around the palace. The Yemeni cabinet stated that the attack involved missiles and drones. Yemen's Minister of Health, Qassem Bouhabib, also reported the casualties as five dead and 16 injured, including guards and civilian staff.
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Situation Analysis and Consequences
The Houthi military spokesperson, Yahya Saree, emphasized that the group's forces will continue to target what they describe as Saudi military operations. A Yemeni government official, who wished to remain anonymous, stated that this attack has damaged a command center of the Saudi-led coalition. Clashes between the Houthis and the Saudi coalition have intensified as these conflicts have become linked to a broader war involving U.S. and Israeli policies against Iran.
Relief agencies have warned that the humanitarian situation in Yemen is severely deteriorating. These clashes have complicated efforts to end the war in Iran and have put pressure on global markets. Saudi Arabia, one of the largest oil exporters in the world, is facing repeated attacks, which have also affected regional flights, as the Houthis have warned airlines about using Saudi airspace.
Riyadh International Airport has been targeted 20 times since the beginning of this month, with a recent attack resulting in the deaths of 13 people and injuries to over 300. The Saudi coalition also announced that it intercepted a cruise missile in Medina province, and several flights at Jeddah airport have been canceled or delayed due to this situation.
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