Saudi guards killed as Houthis claim Aden strike near palace housing MBS-backed Yemeni leadership

At least six explosions were reported near Al-Ma’ashiq Palace in Aden, the seat of Yemen’s Saudi-backed Presidential Leadership Council, raising fresh concerns over the security of the country’s southern leadership. Reports from the Associated Press and Reuters described blasts near the palace complex, while Saudi broadcaster Al Arabiya reported that the Houthis fired four ballistic missiles toward the site. Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree said the operation targeted Saudi military deployments in Aden and warned that Saudi forces in Yemen could face further attacks. However, details of the strike and reported casualties differ across accounts, and several claims remain independently unverified. Could the incident signal a wider escalation in Yemen’s conflict?