Yemen's Aden Targeted by Houthi Missile Strikes Amid Escalating Regional Conflict

Smoke was seen billowing from the presidential palace complex in Aden, Yemen, following an attack on October 15, 2026. The Iran-backed Houthis, also known as Ansar Allah, launched missile strikes targeting the presidential palace in the southern Yemeni city of Aden, resulting in five fatalities and 16 injuries on Thursday. The following day, two missiles impacted the grounds of Aden International Airport as a passenger plane was preparing for departure to Cairo.

Following the Houthis' seizure of Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, in 2014, the internationally recognized government relocated to Aden with support from a Saudi-led coalition of Arab nations. These recent attacks coincide with a resurgence of Yemen's war, which had been largely dormant under a 2022 truce, and have become another theatre in the broader regional conflict involving Iran.

What occurred at Maashiq Palace?

According to Information Minister Moammar al-Eryani, the Houthis struck the Al-Maashiq Presidential Palace with five missiles. Health Minister Qasem Buhaibeh reported that the casualties included both guards and civilian employees. The government confirmed that Prime Minister Shaya al-Zindani and other officials were unharmed, though two of his bodyguards were killed. Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree stated that the group targeted what he described as the “Saudi military operations headquarters” in Aden.

What occurred at the airport?

On Friday, two missiles landed on the airport's premises, as reported by the Aden Security Department, which attributed the attack to the Houthis. This was reportedly the second assault on the facility in under a week. Yemenia Flight 612, bound for Cairo, was on the tarmac preparing for takeoff. Al-Eryani indicated that the missiles landed approximately 500 meters (1,600 feet) from the aircraft, with no reported injuries. Al-Eryani characterized the strike as “a direct threat to the lives of passengers and aviation crews.” The Houthi-controlled Saba agency claimed the group's objective was to hit a military headquarters and weapons depots within Badr Camp, a military installation adjacent to the airport.

Why are attacks on Aden significant?

Aden serves as Yemen's interim capital. The government relocated there after the Houthis forcibly took control of the capital, Sanaa, in 2014 and subsequently established their own administration. The al-Maashiq Palace functions as the headquarters and seat of power for the internationally recognized government. Currently, the Houthis exert control over a significant portion of the country's north and west. Hostilities between the Houthis and the Saudi-backed coalition supporting the government had largely ceased following a 2022 ceasefire. However, in September, the Houthis initiated a rapid offensive along the Red Sea coast, capturing territory overlooking the crucial Bab al-Mandeb strait at the entrance to the Red Sea. Approximately two weeks prior, government forces launched a counteroffensive named “Operation Dawn of Yemen,” supported by Saudi air power, but have thus far been unsuccessful in reclaiming lost ground. Saree asserted that the Houthi attacks on Aden were consistent with the group's stated policy of targeting “Saudi reinforcements wherever they were located.” The city has experienced attacks previously. In December 2020, an attack on Aden airport as a new cabinet arrived from Saudi Arabia resulted in at least 22 deaths. A subsequent attack targeted the palace where ministers had been evacuated for safety. The coalition implicated the Houthis, who denied responsibility.

What has been the reaction?

On Thursday, Rayed Krimly, Saudi Arabia’s deputy minister for public diplomacy, accused Iran of having “encouraged” the escalation. He noted that the Iran-backed Houthis had declined an invitation for talks in Oman when the latest hostilities commenced. Tehran refuted this claim on Friday, with Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei stating, “The Islamic Republic of Iran rejects any claim that Iran has played a role in Yemeni (Houthi) operations.” Baghaei added that Iran “has always been ready to use its good offices to help end the hostilities,” reiterating its offer to mediate. Canada's embassy in Saudi Arabia condemned the palace attack and called for “an immediate de-escalation of hostilities,” expressing solidarity with the internationally recognized Government of Yemen and its people via a post on X. On Thursday, the United Nations Security Council condemned the escalating Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, including those impacting civil aviation and energy infrastructure. The governing council of the UN’s International Civil Aviation Organization also denounced recent attacks on civilian airports and aircraft in Saudi Arabia. On October 9, Hans Grundberg, the UN special envoy for Yemen, informed the UNSC that the country had regressed into “full-scale war.”

What is happening in the wider conflict?

Fighting resumed in July, bringing an end to a 2022 truce. Last month, the Houthis gained control of the Bab al-Mandeb strait, a vital global shipping route. Since Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz in March amid US strikes, Saudi Arabia has increasingly depended on transporting oil exports to the Red Sea via its East-West pipeline. Earlier in the year, the Houthis declared a blockade on Saudi ships in the area. On October 4, Rashad al-Alimi, president of the Presidential Leadership Council, announced Operation Dawn of Yemen to recapture Houthi-held territory, including Sanaa. The Saudi-led coalition reported the participation of 100 fighter jets, marking its first acknowledgement since 2022 of resuming air attacks against the Houthis. In response, the Houthis have consistently launched missiles and drones at Saudi airports, oil facilities, and other infrastructure. On Friday, the coalition announced the interception of a ballistic missile aimed at Yanbu, a Red Sea oil hub used by Saudi Arabia for crude exports. On the ground, combat has intensified in Taiz governorate, where the Houthis have maintained a siege on the city of Taiz, which borders the Red Sea. The state-run Saba media outlet, citing the Taiz Axis military command, reported 168 Houthi fighters killed and 210 wounded in the region. In Houthi-controlled areas, the Houthi-run Health Ministry reported 124 civilian deaths and 327 injuries attributed to “Saudi aggression” since September 3. In the early hours of Saturday, Houthi-affiliated media reported attacks east of Saada, with the coalition confirming the destruction of two ballistic missile launchers in the vicinity.