In a major escalation of Yemen's conflict, Iran-backed Houthi forces launched at least five missiles at the Al-Maashiq presidential palace complex in Aden, the interim capital and seat of the internationally recognised Saudi-backed government. Five people were killed, including guards and civilian personnel, while 16 others were injured. Senior government officials, including the prime minister and cabinet ministers, escaped unharmed.

The attack struck while top government figures were present at the complex, marking one of the most serious attempts yet to target Yemen's leadership. Witnesses reported multiple powerful explosions around the palace, with large plumes of smoke rising above the site.

The Houthis claimed responsibility and said the strike targeted what they described as a Saudi military operations headquarters inside the palace compound. Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree stated that the operation formed part of the group's strategy of striking Saudi military deployments and reinforcements wherever they are located.

Houthi-linked media further claimed that the facility housed Saudi officers and weapons depots. Government officials, however, said the attack was directed against the headquarters of Yemen's internationally recognised administration.

The strike was the first attack on the Al-Maashiq palace during the latest phase of fighting between the Houthis and Saudi-backed forces. The renewed conflict resumed last month following the collapse of a prolonged ceasefire, raising concerns of a wider regional escalation.

The palace attack came as the Saudi-led coalition accused the Houthis of dramatically expanding operations against Saudi civilian and strategic infrastructure. Coalition officials said the group had attempted attacks on dozens of airports, ports and oil facilities across the kingdom.

According to coalition spokesperson Turki al-Maliki, King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh alone was targeted 20 times this month, resulting in 17 deaths and 333 injuries. Abha Airport near the Yemeni border was also reportedly hit, causing three deaths and injuring 28 others.

Saudi officials said the Houthis have increasingly deployed ballistic missiles, drones and explosive-laden boats, alleging that the group has received advanced military technology from regional supporters. The coalition added that it had destroyed 127 Houthi weapons storage sites and launch platforms across Yemen.

The Houthis said their recent attacks were retaliation for Saudi support of Yemeni government forces. They renewed warnings that Saudi airspace and airports were unsafe, although they excluded the airspace over Mecca and Medina from those warnings.

The latest violence follows years of conflict that began when the Houthis seized Yemen's capital, Sanaa, in 2014. A Saudi-led military intervention started in 2015, while a United Nations-brokered truce in 2022 significantly reduced large-scale fighting. Efforts to transform that ceasefire into a permanent political settlement have since stalled, and hostilities have intensified once again amid broader regional tensions.

Recent fighting has also expanded around key strategic areas, including the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, one of the world's most important maritime trade routes. Aid organisations have warned that the renewed conflict is worsening Yemen's already severe humanitarian crisis.

Agencies