Yemen Houthis hit Aden airport with two missiles

Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi group launched two missiles at Aden International Airport on Friday. France 24 and Al Jazeera both report that the attack occurred as regional violence continued. France 24 reported that the Houthis claimed responsibility for the strike, stating that they targeted a weapons depot and a military command headquarters at the site. [1][2]

According to Al Jazeera, Yemeni Information Minister Moammar al-Eryani said the two missiles landed near the airport runway. The strikes occurred 500 metres from an aircraft that was preparing to take off. Al Jazeera reported that all passengers and crew members were safe. [2]

The missile strike followed a separate assault on Aden one day prior. Al Jazeera reported that the internationally recognised government blamed the Houthis for a deadly attack on the presidential palace in the port city on Thursday. Reuters, DW, and The National also reported on Thursday that Houthi rebels targeted the government palace in Aden. [2][5][6][7]

The Houthis emerged in the 1990s as a Zaydi Shia political and paramilitary group. They are supported by Iran as part of the regional alliance known as the Axis of Resistance. Aden currently serves as the temporary capital for the Yemeni government during the ongoing civil war. [8][10]

The attack comes amid broader fighting across the region. Al Jazeera reported that Yemeni government forces claim to have made recent advances in Marib province and neutralised 430 Houthi fighters within a 24 hour period. [2]