Israeli Airstrike Kills Houthi Prime Minister Alongside Several Ministers in Sanaa

An Israeli airstrike on Thursday in Sanaa, Yemen, killed the prime minister of the Houthi rebel government, Ahmed al-Rahawi, as well as several high-ranking ministers. The strike occurred during a government workshop attended by Houthi officials, including Rahawi, who had served as prime minister since August 2024 and was considered more of a symbolic figure than a strategic leader.

The Israeli military acknowledged carrying out a precision strike on a "Houthi terrorist regime military target" and stated that the operation targeted officials responsible for terror actions against Israel. The air raid appears to mark a tactical shift toward striking the Houthi leadership directly, following the group's persistent missile and drone attacks on Israeli and international shipping in the Red Sea, conducted in solidarity with Palestinians impacted by the Gaza conflict.

In response to the strike, Houthi leader Mahdi al-Mashat vowed vengeance, warning foreign companies to leave Israel and promising retaliation. The Houthis named Deputy Prime Minister Muhammad Ahmed Miftah as the acting prime minister.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz described the strike as a powerful blow to the Houthi leadership and reaffirmed Israel’s commitment to targeting those who threaten its security. The incident underscores the growing regional spillover of the Israel–Hamas conflict and the expanding fronts of confrontation beyond Gaza.

Sources: News, Reuters, Al Jazeera, The Guardian, The Washington Post