Two killed in Houthi attack near Yemen government palace in Aden

• Two members of the prime minister’s security detail were reported killed.
• Witnesses told the Associated Press they heard at least six explosions near Maashiq Palace.
• The government said the prime minister and other officials were safe.
• The Houthis claimed they targeted a Saudi military operations centre; that claim has not been independently verified.

Two members of Yemen’s prime minister’s security detail were killed after explosions struck near Maashiq Palace in Aden, according to government officials. The government said Prime Minister Shaya al-Zindani and other officials were safe. The Houthis claimed responsibility for the attack. ¹²

Maashiq Palace serves as the headquarters of Yemen’s internationally recognised government. Witnesses told the Associated Press they heard at least six explosions; a security official said some were near the palace hill and its security gate. Yemen’s information minister said five missiles had targeted the palace, while the government described a missile-and-drone attack. ¹²

The Houthis said they had targeted a military operations centre run by Saudi officers, as well as weapons depots inside the complex. Reuters said it could not independently verify that account. The reports examined do not establish the exact point of impact or the extent of damage to the palace. ³⁴

The Associated Press reported six people wounded, citing an unnamed official. A statement from Yemen’s Cabinet confirmed injuries but did not give a total; the reported death toll of two was also attributed to Yemeni officials. ¹⁴⁵

The attack came as fighting between Houthi forces and forces aligned with the government intensified around Taiz, according to Al Jazeera. ²

Footnotes

1. Associated Press, “2 killed in explosions near palace used by Yemen’s government in latest Houthi attack”, https://apnews.com/article/saudia-arabia-yemen-houthi-rebels-explosions-ed4dcdad5cfd4b08033b1af5cf81dca5 ↩ ↩² ↩³

2. Al Jazeera, “Houthis target Yemen’s presidential palace in Aden with missiles”, https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/10/15/houthis-target-yemens-presidential-palace-in-aden-with-missiles ↩ ↩² ↩³

3. Reuters, carried by Internazionale, “Houthis attack presidential palace complex in Yemen’s Aden, PM unharmed, officials say”, https://www.internazionale.it/ultime-notizie-reuters/2026/10/15/houthis-fire-missiles-at-presidential-palace-in-yemen-s-aden-officials-say ↩

4. South24 Center for News and Studies, “Missiles Target Yemeni Government Headquarters at Maashiq Palace in Aden”, https://south24.net/news/newse.php?nid=5798 ↩ ↩²

5. Roya News, “Yemeni Cabinet condemns Houthi attack on Aden's Maashiq Palace”, https://en.royanews.tv/news/74945 ↩