Middle East updates: Houthis target Yemen government palace in Aden

Houthi rebels target Yemen government palace in Aden, Saudi military assets, and oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman.

The full report

Houthi rebels have targeted Yemen's government palace in Aden, according to an unnamed government minister. The attack, which occurred on Thursday, targeted command centers of a Saudi-led coalition and Yemeni government forces. The minister stated that five missiles were used in the attack, and two members of the prime minister's security detail were reported killed. Yemeni Information Minister Moammar al-Eryani confirmed that Prime Minister Shaya al-Zindani and cabinet officials were unharmed. The attack was carried out in the vicinity of the presidential palace, where Yemen's internationally-recognized government is based. Aden has been the interim seat of Yemen's government since Houthi rebels took over the capital, Sanaa, and other parts of northern Yemen in 2014.

The Houthi-aligned television channel reported that a "military headquarters run by Saudi officers" was attacked. The Saudi-led coalition is fighting the Iran-backed Houthis alongside government forces. The conflict has been ongoing since 2014, with the Houthis taking control of the capital and other parts of northern Yemen. The Saudi-led coalition has been enforcing a maritime blockade in the region, alongside the US military.

Iran's military reported that an oil tanker caught fire in the Gulf of Oman, just south of the Strait of Hormuz, while trying to pass through a "prohibited" area. Although Iran did not directly claim responsibility for the tanker fire, state television cited an army statement saying an "offending" and "non-compliant" tanker had switched off its tracking system while trying to pass through the prohibited zone. The US military has not issued a statement on the incident.

The reported incident comes a day after Iran's Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) said a cargo vessel was sunk while passing through the Strait of Hormuz after striking a mine. The incident highlights the ongoing tensions in the region, with multiple parties involved in the conflict. The situation remains volatile, with ongoing attacks and incidents reported in the region.