Aden explosions near Maashiq Palace leave two dead as Houthis claim missile and drone attack

Multiple blasts hit areas close to Maashiq palace in Aden on Thursday, according to witnesses. An official said at least two people were killed and six others were wounded. Residents rushed out of nearby streets after the explosions. Iran-backed Houthi rebels in northern Yemen soon said they were behind the attack.

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The strikes were described as unusual for the palace zone. The area is used by Yemen’s internationally recognised government in the port city. The government said the Houthis used missiles and drones, SABA news agency reported. Both officials spoke anonymously, saying they lacked permission to brief media.

Yemen government palace attack and Aden security details

A security official said at least two explosions landed on the hill near Maashiq palace. Two more were reported close to the security gate. Government sources said officials based in Aden were unharmed. Many government leaders remain outside Yemen, with several living in exile, another official said.

Witnesses said at least six explosions were heard near the palace area. The blasts triggered fear across surrounding neighbourhoods. People left homes and shops and moved away from the site. The same official confirmed the casualty toll, while noting the figure could change as checks continued.

Houthi attacks and Saudi-led coalition response in Yemen war

The Houthis said the operation hit a military operations headquarters with the Saudi enemy. The group linked it to a wider pattern of striking Saudi targets. Past attacks have included airports and oil facilities inside the kingdom. The latest violence has added strain to efforts to end the Iran war.

The Houthis have also warned airlines about Saudi airspace, citing its use in attacks. Regional aviation has faced disruption as a result. Thousands of flights across the kingdom have been affected, according to the report. The escalation has also unsettled global markets, as Saudi Arabia faces repeated attacks.

Earlier on Thursday, the Saudi-led coalition said it stopped a cruise missile over Medina province. The coalition statement did not name who launched it. Flightradar 24 said dozens of flights were cancelled or delayed at Jeddah airport. Houthi military spokesperson, Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree, denied rebel involvement.

The Houthis had earlier promised not to strike airports in the holy cities of Mecca and Medina. Saudi Arabia also said it brought down a drone over the Eastern province, a key oil region. Saudi authorities added that another drone was intercepted in Khamis Mushait, near a major military air base.

Taiz siege and humanitarian impact in Yemen fighting

Inside Yemen, renewed battles have worsened a civil war after about four years of relative calm. Attention has turned to Taiz, Yemen’s third-largest city, which is under Houthi siege. Residents are struggling to secure daily essentials. When supplies appear, prices are far higher than before.

Fuel shortages have left many petrol stations empty or shut. The World Food Program said it can no longer reach more than 600,000 people in Taiz who depend on aid. Fathiyya Mohamed al-Mugahed described searching for flour, cooking gas and fuel without success.

"The Houthis have surrounded us from all sides, she said. Projectiles are all we have received from them.\"

The International Committee of the Red Cross said Taiz has recorded some of the country’s heaviest casualty burdens. The reports from Aden and Taiz show how the conflict is affecting both government-held areas and besieged cities. Officials said investigations and security assessments were continuing after Thursday’s attacks.

With inputs from PTI