Five people were killed and 16 others injured on Thursday when multiple ballistic missiles and drones struck the Maasheeq presidential palace complex in Aden, upending the interim capital and striking the government’s official headquarters as leaders gathered.
The assault marked a violent escalation in the ongoing conflict. According to government officials, the compound was targeted by five ballistic missiles launched by Houthi forces. The explosions left casualties among the site’s security personnel and civilian staff, drawing swift condemnation from the country’s leadership.
Missiles Strike Maasheeq Palace as Cabinet Gathers
Yemeni Minister of Health Qasem Buhaibeh confirmed the toll following the Thursday evening assault, stating that the victims included site guards and civilian employees. The Ministry of Information quickly announced that Prime Minister Shayeh Al-Zindani—along with members of the Cabinet, emerged from the compound unharmed.
The Government strongly condemns today's Houthi drone and missile attack on Presidential Palace in #Aden, which martyred and injured security personnel. #Houthi Terrorism will not deter the state or halt the work of institutions in Aden. The Government remains committed to ending…
Security sources and local witnesses reported hearing a series of loud blasts as the projectiles hit the outer perimeter and administrative zones of the palace. Debris and smoke filled the air above the coastal facility, which serves as the primary seat of the internationally recognized government. Officials noted that three missiles struck the grounds housing Saudi-backed Shield of the Homeland forces, while two others hit the coalition command area within the presidential complex.
Defiant Stance From Leadership Amid Shaken Neighborhoods
The provisional capital will remain the center from which state institutions operate and perform their duties toward citizens.
Statement | The Cabinet affirmed that the Houthi terrorist militia’s attack today, Thursday, on Maashiq Palace in the interim capital, Aden—using missiles and drones, resulting in the martyrdom and injury of members of the security staff—clearly demonstrates the militia’s… pic.twitter.com/ksyWHz8hhs
Residents in the coastal city reported hearing continuous explosions that rattled neighborhoods near the presidential grounds as smoke billowed from the targeted sector. Two security officials speaking to Reuters confirmed that the prime minister and visiting ministers remained safe inside the complex, though two guards initially lost their lives in the opening barrage before the toll rose to five fatalities and 16 injuries. Prime Minister Shayeh Al-Zindani emphasized that the administration would continue conducting its responsibilities among the public despite the ongoing threats.
Houthi Military Claims and Counter-Directives From Leadership
Following the bombardment, military spokesmen for the Houthi movement asserted that the operation targeted a military command center operated by Saudi officers inside the Maasheeq complex, alongside allied weapons depots. The group maintained that any foreign military presence linked to the coalition remains a legitimate target.
In response, Presidential Leadership Council head Rashad Al-Alimi directed security and military branches to secure state infrastructure and execute an appropriate counter-response against the sources of threat. The Yemeni Cabinet framed the assault as evidence of the group’s frustration on the battlefield, linking it directly to ongoing military operations intended to retake territory.
Widening Fronts Across Marib and Taiz
Concurrently, the conflict widened across multiple fronts. Authorities in Marib reported that residential neighborhoods absorbed sixteen ballistic missiles and incoming projectiles, compounding dangers for displaced populations. Meanwhile, fighting intensified around the western approaches to Taiz, where ground clashes and coalition airstrikes continued to displace local families toward the city center.
