Houthi missiles kill five at Yemen's government headquarters in Aden in first-ever palace strike

Houthi rebels fired a barrage of missiles and drones at Al-Maashiq Palace in Aden on Thursday, killing five people — including guards and civilian employees — and injuring 16 in the first attack on the seat of Yemen's internationally recognised government. Prime Minister Shaya al-Zindani and cabinet members escaped unharmed, information minister Moammar al-Eryani confirmed. Videos showed smoke rising from near the palace complex, visible over a mile away, as the Houthis simultaneously launched ballistic missiles at the oil-rich city of Marib.

The Houthis claimed they targeted a Saudi military operations headquarters, but Yemen's government said the attack hit its official seat of power.

Former US envoy Tim Lenderking warns the Houthis are now building homegrown weapons capabilities independent of Iran, making them a global threat in their own right.

Fighting resumed last month after a 2022 truce collapsed, with the Houthis attacking Saudi shipping and government forces only last week launching a counter-offensive to reclaim lost coastal territory.