At least six explosions were heard on Thursday near a palace used by Yemen’s internationally recognised government in the southern port city of Aden, triggering panic among residents, witnesses said.

Iran-backed Houthi rebels based in northern Yemen quickly claimed responsibility for the attack.

A security official said at least two explosions occurred on a hill near Maashiq Palace, while two others were heard near its security gate.

The blasts prompted residents to flee the area. A government official said members of the country's leadership who were in Aden were safe, while many senior officials were living in exile.

The two officials spoke on condition of anonymity as they were not authorised to comment publicly.

The attack came as fighting between the Houthis and a Saudi-led coalition intensified amid the wider Iran war. It was a rare attack targeting the area around the palace.

The Houthis said they had struck a military operations headquarters associated with what they called the “Saudi enemy”, as part of their campaign against Saudi targets, including airports and oil infrastructure.

Earlier on Thursday, the Saudi-led coalition fighting the Houthis said it had intercepted a cruise missile over Saudi Arabia’s Medina province.

Flight-tracking platform Flightradar24 reported that dozens of flights were cancelled or delayed at Jeddah airport following the incident.

The coalition did not identify those responsible for the missile attack. Houthi military spokesperson Brig Gen Yahya Saree denied that the rebels had carried it out.

The group had previously pledged not to target airports in the Saudi holy cities of Mecca and Medina.

Saudi Arabia also announced that it had destroyed a drone over its Eastern Province, a major oil-producing region.