A Houthi attack on Yemen's presidential palace complex in Aden killed five people and wounded 16, according to Yemen's health minister, marking a direct strike on the seat of the country's internationally recognised government.
The October 15 attack targeted the Al-Maashiq palace complex with missiles and drones. Health Minister Qasem Buhaibeh said palace guards and civilian employees were among the casualties. Prime Minister Shaya al-Zindani and cabinet members inside the complex were reported safe.
The updated toll was reported Friday by the Associated Press and separately confirmed in reports citing Yemen's health minister.
Houthi Attack Hits Aden Presidential Palace
Witnesses initially reported at least six explosions around the hilltop palace and its security gate. The Guardian published verified footage showing thick black smoke rising from the complex after the strike.
Yemen's information minister said the Houthis fired five missiles at Al-Maashiq. The Houthis claimed they struck a Saudi military operations headquarters, while their SABA news agency said the site included weapons depots. Those claims have not been independently verified.
ABC's account of the attack said the prime minister and cabinet members were unharmed. The dead and wounded included people working at and protecting the government complex.
Why the Al-Maashiq Strike Matters
Aden has served as the base of Yemen's internationally recognised government since the Houthis seized the capital, Sanaa, in 2014. Striking Al-Maashiq therefore carries political weight beyond the immediate casualties: the complex houses senior state officials and symbolises the government's authority in southern Yemen.
The assault was the first on the palace in the current round of fighting between the Houthis and Saudi-backed forces. A Reuters report described it as a new front in an escalation that has also reached Saudi airports and energy infrastructure.
BullBuzz has tracked that widening range. Recent attacks have included the strike on Saudi Aramco's Dhahran headquarters and new explosions over Riyadh during a missile interception.
Attack Extends a Rapid Regional Escalation
The Houthis have claimed attacks against Saudi airports, oil facilities and military targets as fighting intensifies with the Saudi-led coalition. The Aden strike shows that the group is also targeting command centres inside territory controlled by Yemen's government.
The palace attack follows evidence that the Houthis were seeking components for a longer-range ballistic missile. BullBuzz's report on the attempt to build a 2,000-kilometre missile using Chinese-linked parts explains why regional governments are reassessing the group's reach.
Claims from the two sides remain sharply contested. The casualty figures come from Yemen's government, while the description of military facilities comes from Houthi sources. Verified footage establishes smoke at the Aden palace complex but does not by itself identify every weapon used or confirm the intended target.
What to Watch Next
The immediate questions are whether the government remains at Al-Maashiq, whether the Saudi-led coalition retaliates, and whether further attacks disrupt Aden's airport or port. Any move by senior officials away from the city would carry political significance even if government operations continue.
The strike also raises the risk of further attacks on civilian areas surrounding military and government facilities. The next reliable indicators will be official casualty updates, independently verified damage assessments and confirmed changes in coalition operations.
Banner: Smoke rises from the Al-Maashiq presidential palace complex in Aden after the October 15, 2026 attack. Social media video verified by Reuters.