Aden: At least five people were killed and 16 others injured after Houthi rebels launched an attack on the al-Maashiq Presidential Palace in Yemen's southern port city of Aden, marking a fresh escalation in the conflict between the Iran-backed group and government forces.

Yemeni Health Minister Qasim Mohammed Buhaibeh confirmed the casualties, according to Al Jazeera, as fighting intensified across several parts of the country and tensions with neighbouring Saudi Arabia continued to mount.

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Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree claimed responsibility for Thursday's attack, describing the targeted compound as a Saudi military operations headquarters.

"The bombing of the Saudi enemy's war operations headquarters in Aden comes within the context of the announced equation of striking Saudi mobilisations wherever they may be, and considering any military presence of the Saudi enemy a legitimate target for our forces wherever it may be," Saree said in a statement posted on X.

The attack prompted a strong response from Yemen's internationally recognised government, which vowed to continue its military campaign against Houthi forces.

Chairman of Yemen's Presidential Leadership Council Rashad al-Alimi described the assault as an “extension” of previous attacks on airports and oil installations in Yemen and Saudi Arabia.

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Al-Alimi said he had instructed government forces to “take the necessary measures to protect state institutions, counter terrorist threats, and respond appropriately to sources of danger”.

He maintained that the ongoing “Dawn of Yemen” military campaign was advancing towards its goal of “restoring state institutions and extending state authority across the entire national territory, ultimately reaching the capital, Sanaa.”

Despite the attack on the presidential compound, all cabinet ministers stationed in Aden were safe, Yemen's Minister of Youth Nayef Saleh al-Bakri said, according to Al Arabiya.

He also asserted that government ministers would remain in the city despite the deteriorating security situation.

Yemen government claims 1,250 strikes on Houthi positions

The attack came amid an intensified government offensive against Houthi-controlled areas.

Yemeni government forces claimed to have launched 1,250 attacks on Houthi positions over the previous 24 hours as part of the “Dawn of Yemen” campaign.

Military spokesperson Majed al-Nuzaili said the operations involved fighter aircraft, drones, artillery and rocket launchers.

According to him, the strikes destroyed approximately 150 Houthi vehicles and inflicted significant damage on rebel defensive positions, “particularly on the Taiz fronts”.

The battlefield claims could not be independently verified.

Meanwhile, authorities in Yemen's Marib governorate accused the Houthis of launching nine ballistic missiles and seven other projectiles towards Marib city on Thursday evening.

In an official statement, the Marib Governorate Media Office condemned the attacks as “a flagrant violation of international laws and norms prohibiting attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure”.

It warned that “continued missile attacks on populated areas” represented “a dangerous escalation threatening civilian lives and security”.

The office urged the international community, the United Nations and humanitarian organisations to “take concrete action to protect civilians and hold those responsible accountable”.

Houthis claim strikes on Saudi oil facilities, Riyadh airport

The latest violence follows Houthi claims that the group targeted major Saudi energy installations and King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh on Wednesday.

Saree said Houthi forces had launched ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and drones against Saudi Aramco facilities in the Eastern Province, the Ras Tanura refinery and Riyadh's international airport.

He described the attacks as retaliation for "Saudi aggression" against Yemen.

The Houthi spokesperson claimed the strikes triggered fires and caused damage at the targeted facilities. However, there has been no independent confirmation of the alleged destruction.

Saree also warned that operations against Saudi territory would continue, identifying airports and oil infrastructure as “legitimate targets” for Houthi forces.

In a separate statement on Thursday, Saree accused Saudi Arabia of carrying out extensive aerial bombardment across Yemen.

"Saudi warplanes conducted 65 airstrikes and missile attacks targeting civilian assets in the capital Sana'a and the provinces of Lahj, Hodeidah, Taiz, Amran, Saada, and Marib, carried out via F-15 and Typhoon aircraft that took off from Khamis Mushait and Taif airbases, with the missile aggression launched from Najran. This brings the total number of Saudi aggression airstrikes and missiles since the escalation against our country to 2388 airstrikes and missiles."

Saree claimed that the cumulative number of Saudi airstrikes and missile attacks since the latest escalation began had reached 2,388.

The figures and allegations have not been independently verified.

Saudi Arabia accuses Iran of fuelling Houthi attacks

As hostilities intensified, Saudi Arabia accused Iran of supporting the Houthis and contributing to the growing regional confrontation.

Saudi Deputy Foreign Minister for Public Diplomacy Rayed Krimly alleged that Tehran continued to “arm, train and support the Houthi militia in violation of relevant UN Security Council resolutions and in violation of its commitments in the Beijing agreement”.

He was referring to the Saudi-Iranian diplomatic agreement brokered by China in March 2023.

Krimly also alleged that certain entities in Russia and China were supplying capabilities or intelligence to Iran and the Houthis, including through commercial channels.

“Of course, some of the capabilities of Iran, and of the Houthis, do come – or the intelligence – do come from at least elements in Russia or China, even commercial elements sometimes, but we do discuss these matters regularly with China and Russia, and we will continue to do so,” he said, according to Al Jazeera.

France deploys military assets to protect Saudi oil infrastructure

Amid mounting concerns over attacks on energy facilities, France has begun deploying military assets to Saudi Arabia to strengthen the protection of critical oil infrastructure.

French Foreign Ministry spokesperson Pascal Confavreux confirmed the deployment, according to Al Jazeera.

French President Emmanuel Macron had announced last month that Paris would send troops and defence systems to help secure Yanbu, a major Saudi energy hub on the Red Sea.

The deployment comes as repeated attacks and threats against energy installations raise concerns over the security of oil supplies and regional shipping routes.

Earlier this week, the Saudi-led coalition warned civilians to evacuate the Al-Sabahah Central Station of the Yemeni Oil Company in Houthi-controlled Sanaa ahead of a planned military operation.

The coalition also claimed to have intercepted two ballistic missiles targeting Khamis Mushait and destroyed three drones north of Riyadh.

Separately, the Houthis claimed to have shot down a Saudi reconnaissance aircraft.

These military claims have not been independently verified.

Humanitarian concerns grow as fighting spreads across Yemen

Meanwhile, Yemen's Foreign Minister Afrah al-Zouba urged European nations to adopt a stronger position on the continuing fighting in Taiz.

According to the Yemeni Foreign Ministry, al-Zouba discussed the worsening humanitarian situation with European Union Ambassador to Yemen Patrick Simonnet.

Their discussions focused on escalating clashes and the displacement of civilians in southern and western Yemen.

The latest hostilities have added to concerns over the humanitarian consequences of Yemen's prolonged conflict.

The country has endured years of devastating warfare since the Houthis captured the capital, Sanaa, in 2014 and forced the internationally recognised government from power.

Saudi Arabia subsequently led a military intervention in 2015 in support of the government.