Yemen's Houthis launch missile attacks on Aden airport

Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels launched missile attacks on Aden International Airport on Friday, following a deadly assault on the presidential palace in the port city. Aden has served as the capital of Yemen's internationally recognized government since 2015, after the Houthis seized Sanaa, igniting a civil war. The Houthis are currently clashing with the government and Saudi Arabia.

Yemeni Information Minister Moammar Eryani reported that two missiles struck near the airport's runway, just 500 meters from an aircraft preparing to take off. He emphasized the incident as a "grave violation of international laws and norms" and confirmed that all civilians on the plane were safe. The Aden Security Department confirmed this was the second attack on the airport within a week.

In a statement attributed to a military source, the Houthis claimed to have targeted "the Saudi forces’ command headquarters in the Badr camp in Aden province" and a weapons depot. The security department stated that a Yemenia Airways flight bound for Cairo was preparing for takeoff when the missiles landed. This attack follows the Houthis' first assault on the presidential palace since the conflict reignited last month, following a four-year lull.

Marwan Ali Noman, a political adviser to Yemen's Foreign Minister Afrah Al Zouba, assured that the Houthis would not succeed in disrupting public life or undermining state authority as the government continues its military and political campaign against them. Despite the Houthi attack on the presidential palace, Aden will remain the center of government operations, according to Noman.

Ongoing heavy fighting has raised concerns over the worsening humanitarian crisis in Yemen. Aid agencies have warned that conditions are deteriorating rapidly. Yemeni government forces reported on Friday that troops had advanced in Marib province, northeast of Sanaa, securing key positions with air support and neutralizing more than 430 Houthi fighters and destroying or disabling over 100 of their vehicles and military assets.

The Saudi-led coalition, fighting against the Houthis, released aerial footage on October 16, depicting strikes on a Houthi weapons-smuggling operation in the Red Sea port city of Hodeidah.