Yemen: 5 Killed, 16 Injured in Houthi Attack on Aden Presidential Palace

October 16, 2026

Aden, Yemen: Five people were killed and 16 others injured in a Houthi attack targeting the al-Maashiq Presidential Palace in Aden, southern Yemen as fighting between Houthi forces and government troops intensifies. The casualty figures were reported by Yemen’s Health Minister Qasim Mohammed Buhaibeh, according to media reports.

The attack has heightened tensions across Yemen, with the internationally recognised government stepping up military operations against Houthi positions and the rebel group claiming further strikes against Saudi targets. The escalating violence has also raised concerns over civilian safety regional security and the impact on energy infrastructure and trade routes.

Houthis Claim Responsibility for Aden Palace Attack

Houthi spokesperson Yahya Saree claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement posted on X on Thursday. He described the operation as a strike against what he called the Saudi enemy’s war operations headquarters in Aden.

Saree said the attack was part of the group’s declared policy of targeting Saudi military deployments wherever they are located. He also described Saudi military presence as a legitimate target for Houthi forces.

Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council Chairman Rashad al-Alimi condemned the attack, describing it as an extension of earlier strikes targeting airports and oil facilities in Yemen and Saudi Arabia.

Al-Alimi said he had instructed government forces to take the necessary steps to protect state institutions, counter security threats and respond to sources of danger.

He also said the government’s “Dawn of Yemen” operation launched earlier this month, was progressing towards its stated objective of restoring state institutions and extending government authority across the country, including the capital, Sanaa.

Yemen Government Says Ministers Remain Safe in Aden

Yemen’s Minister of Youth, Nayef Saleh al-Bakri, said all cabinet ministers in Aden were unharmed and that members of the government would remain in the city despite the attack.

Meanwhile, government forces claimed to have conducted 1,250 attacks against Houthi positions in the preceding 24 hours as part of the “Dawn of Yemen” campaign.

Government forces spokesperson Majed al-Nuzaili said the operations involved combat aircraft, drones, artillery and rocket launchers. He also claimed that 150 Houthi vehicles had been destroyed, with significant damage inflicted on Houthi fortifications, particularly along the Taiz front.

These battlefield figures have not been independently verified.

Marib Reports Missile and Projectile Attacks

The Marib Governorate Media Office said the Houthis fired nine ballistic missiles and seven other projectiles towards Marib city on Thursday evening.

In a statement, the office condemned the attacks as a violation of international laws and norms prohibiting strikes against civilians and civilian infrastructure. It warned that continued missile attacks on populated areas threatened civilian lives and security.

The office also called on the international community, the United Nations and humanitarian and human rights organisations to take concrete steps to protect civilians and ensure accountability.

The latest reports of attacks come amid an increasingly volatile security situation across several parts of Yemen.

Houthis Claim Strikes on Saudi Oil Facilities and Riyadh Airport

The escalation follows Houthi claims of attacks on Saudi energy infrastructure and King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh on Wednesday.

Saree said the group had targeted Saudi Aramco facilities in the Eastern Province, the Ras Tanura refinary and the airport using ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and drones.

He described the operation as a response to what the group called Saudi aggression against Yemen and alleged that the strikes caused destruction and fires at the targeted locations. These claims have not been independently verified.

The Houthi spokesperson also warned that attacks against Saudi territory would continue, reiterating the group’s position that airports and oil installations were legitimate military targets.

In a separate statement on Thursday, Saree alleged that Saudi warplanes had carried out 65 airstrikes and missile attacks against areas in Sanaa and the provinces of Lahj, Hodeidah, Taiz, Amran, Saada and Marib.

He claimed the cumulative number of Saudi airstrikes and missile attacks since the latest escalation began had reached 2,388. The figures and allegations remain unverified independently.

Saudi Arabia Accuses Iran of Supporting Houthis

Saudi Deputy Foreign Minister for Public Diplomacy Rayed Krimly accused Iran of encouraging the escalation by providing the Houthi movement with military support, training and weapons.

Krimly said such assistance violated relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions and Iran’s commitments under the Saudi-Iranian agreement brokered by China in March 2023.

He also alleged that elements in Russia and China were providing Iran and the Houthis with capabilities or intelligence, including through commercial channels. He said Saudi Arabia regularly discussed these concerns with both countries.

The allegations add another layer to the conflict, which has increasingly involved regional powers and competing security interests.

France Deploys Military Assets to Protect Saudi Energy Facilities

France has begun deploying military assets in Saudi Arabia to help protect the kingdom’s oil infrastructure, French Foreign Ministry spokesperson Pascal Confavreux said, according to media reports.

French President Emmanuel Macron had announced last month that France would send troops and defence systems to protect Yanbu, an important Red Sea energy transport hub.

Separately, the Saudi-led coalition warned civilians earlier in the week to evacuate the Al-Sabahah Central Station of the Yemeni Oil Company in Houthi-controlled Sanaa ahead of a planned military operation.

The coalition also said it had intercepted two ballistic missiles targeting Khamis Mushait and neutralised three unmanned aerial vehicles north of Riyadh. The Houthis separately claimed to have shot down a Saudi reconnaissance aircraft. These claims have not been independently verified.

Yemen Warns of Worsening Humanitarian Situation

Yemen’s Foreign Minister Afrah al-Zouba has called on European countries to take a firmer position on the fighting in Taiz, as clashes and displacement continue to worsen conditions for civilians.

According to Yemen’s Foreign Ministry, al-Zouba discussed the fighting and humanitarian challenges, including displacement in southern and western areas, with European Union Ambassador to Yemen Patrick Simonnet.

The latest escalation threatens to deepen an already severe humanitarian crisis, particularly in areas affected by repeated attacks, displacement and disruptions to essential services.

Background: Yemen’s Conflict and Regional Security Risks

Yemen’s conflict intensified in 2014 when Houthi forces seized the capital, Sanaa, and ousted the internationally recognised government. A Saudi-led military intervention followed in 2015 in support of the government.

The latest wave of hostilities has widened concerns beyond Yemen’s borders, particularly as attacks and counterattacks involve Saudi territory and energy infrastructure.

The conflict also carries implications for shipping and international trade through the Red Sea and the strategically important Bab al-Mandeb Strait, a key passage connecting the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden. Continued instability in the region could pose further risks to maritime traffic, energy supplies and regional security.