Yemen Government Vows to Remain in Aden Despite Deadly Houthi Palace Attack

Yemen's southern port city of Aden will continue to serve as the center for government operations, even after a fatal Houthi assault on the city's presidential palace, an official confirmed on Friday to The National. Marwan Ali Noman, political advisor to Yemen's Foreign Minister Afrah Al Zouba, stated that the Iran-backed Houthi rebels will not succeed in disrupting public life or undermining state authority as the government intensifies its military and political campaign against them. Mr. Al Noman emphasized that the government will persist in functioning from Aden despite security challenges and persistent Houthi efforts to destabilize areas under its control. The attack on Thursday saw Houthi missiles strike Al Maashiq Palace, resulting in the deaths of at least five security personnel and injuring 16 others, according to Yemen's Health Ministry. This marks the first time the Houthis have targeted the palace, the seat of the Saudi-backed and internationally recognized government, since the resumption of fighting in Yemen last month following a four-year hiatus. "The government condemns in the strongest terms possible this terrorist attack, and reaffirms that such acts of violence and intimidation will not deter it from fulfilling its constitutional responsibilities, protecting its citizens and safeguarding state institutions," Mr. Al Noman declared. In response to the attack, the government has directed military and security authorities to implement necessary measures to "protect state institutions, confront terrorist threats and respond appropriately to the sources of those threats." Mr. Al Noman reiterated the government's commitment to advancing Operation Dawn of Yemen, a campaign initiated this month aimed at reclaiming control of the entire country, including the capital Sanaa, which the rebels seized in 2014, and restoring state institutions. Government forces, with support from the Saudi-led coalition, have made partial gains against Houthi advances along the Red Sea coast in southwest Yemen. Meanwhile, the rebels have maintained a siege on the city of Taiz, leading to severe shortages of essential supplies like food and fuel. The Houthis have also conducted numerous missile and drone attacks on Saudi Arabian airports and oil facilities in recent weeks, causing 19 fatalities and hundreds of injuries. A significant portion of these casualties resulted from a strike on Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport on October 10. On Friday, the Saudi-led coalition announced that its forces intercepted and destroyed a drone targeting Saudi Arabia's Eastern Province, as stated by spokesman Maj. Gen. Turki Al Malki. Earlier on Thursday, Syria's Foreign Minister Asaad Al Shibani visited Riyadh for discussions with Saudi officials, following a visit by President Ahmad Al Shara earlier in the month. The talks focused on "bilateral relations and regional developments," according to the Saudi state news agency. Reports emerged following Mr. Al Shara's visit suggesting that Riyadh had requested Damascus to deploy troops to support the kingdom against the Houthis in Yemen, a claim that Syria has vehemently denied.