Yemeni presidency confirms casualties following the attack on Maashiq Palace, while reporting more than 17,000 strikes under Operation Dawn of Yemen.

The Houthis launched a missile and drone attack on the Maashiq Presidential Palace in Yemen’s interim capital, Aden, on Thursday, causing deaths and injuries, according to the Yemeni presidency.

Media reports indicated that five missiles were launched toward the presidential compound, although the official statement did not specify the number of missiles or drones involved or the extent of the damage.

Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council (PLC) Chairman Rashad Mohammed Al-Alimi held telephone conversations with council members Abdulrahman Al-Muharrami and Mahmoud Al-Subaihi, as well as Prime Minister Shaya Al-Zindani, to check on their safety and that of other government officials following the attack.

According to the state-run Saba News Agency, Al-Alimi received an initial assessment of the attack and ordered authorities to assist the families of those killed and injured, complete investigations, and strengthen security around government institutions.

He also instructed military and security agencies to take necessary measures to protect state facilities, counter further threats, and respond to the sources of the attacks in accordance with the law while safeguarding civilians and civilian infrastructure.

Al-Alimi described the attack as part of a broader pattern of Houthi strikes against airports, oil facilities, and civilian infrastructure in Yemen and Saudi Arabia.

More Than 17,000 Strikes Under Operation Dawn of Yemen

The attack coincided with a presidential announcement that Yemeni government forces, supported by the Saudi-led coalition, had conducted more than 17,000 aerial and ground strikes since Operation Dawn of Yemen began on October 5.

The figure was disclosed following military briefings delivered to Al-Alimi by Defense Minister Taher Al-Aqili, Chief of General Staff Saghir bin Aziz, and Fourth Military Region Commander Hamdi Shukri.

According to the presidency, the operations targeted Houthi military positions, concentrations, and capabilities across multiple fronts.

Al-Alimi reaffirmed that the offensive would continue toward its declared objective of restoring state authority throughout Yemen, including the capital, Sanaa.

Escalation and Humanitarian Pressure

The attack on Maashiq Palace followed an earlier missile and drone assault on Aden International Airport on October 7, according to Yemeni authorities.

The latest escalation also comes amid continued Houthi attacks against Saudi Arabia, including strikes targeting King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh.

Meanwhile, Al-Alimi reviewed humanitarian conditions in Taiz and Lahj with provincial governors, focusing on displacement, emergency assistance, essential services, and the protection of supply routes.

The presidency also reported forced recruitment and mobilization campaigns in areas of Taiz entered by Houthi forces during the recent fighting, including efforts to impose ideological programs on educational and community institutions.

The attack on Maashiq Palace marks a significant escalation against one of Yemen’s most important government facilities as the military campaign against the Houthis continues across several fronts.

It also raises further concerns about the security of state institutions in Aden amid an expanding wave of missile and drone attacks in Yemen and neighboring Saudi Arabia.