Aden - A powerful explosion rocked the city of Taiz early Saturday morning following a failed ballistic missile launch by the Iran-backed Houthi militia, according to local sources. 

The missile, reportedly part of a broader attempt to disrupt maritime navigation in the Red Sea, detonated shortly after launch, sending shockwaves across residential neighborhoods and triggering widespread panic.

Eyewitnesses in the eastern district of Al-Houbane said the blast occurred around 2:30 a.m., shortly after Houthi forces fired multiple projectiles toward the Red Sea. 

One of the missiles malfunctioned mid-launch and exploded near its launch site, causing significant damage to nearby buildings and infrastructure.

“The explosion was deafening. Windows shattered, and people ran into the streets thinking it was an airstrike,” said a resident who lives near the blast zone.