Israel Kills Houthi PM in Yemen

Houthi Prime Minister Ghalib al-Rahawi and several other ministers were killed in the IAF strike in Sanaa on Thursday, the news agency run by the terror group said on Saturday, citing a statement by the head of the Houthi Supreme Political Council, Mahdi al-Mashat.

The Houthis further announced that several other ministers who were present were seriously or moderately injured in the strike and are receiving medical treatment. However, the announcement did not specify who else was killed in the attack.

According to Army Radio, citing Israeli security sources, eight others killed in the attack were the Houthis’ political bureau director, the prime minister’s chief of staff, the group’s cabinet secretary, and its justice minister, economy and trade minister, foreign minister, agriculture minister, and public relations minister.

Houthi Defense Minister Mohammad Nasser al-Athifi said that the terror group is ready to confront Israel’s airstrike on Sanaa shortly after their deaths were announced, according to the news agency. Mashat’s statement previously did not make clear whether he was among the casualties.

The IAF attacked a group of top Houthi military officials in Sanaa who were watching their leader give a nationally televised speech.

Yemen’s Al-Jumhuriya channel reported that Rahawi was in an apartment alongside several colleagues when he was killed.
Al-Hadath reported that the IAF targeted homes where senior Houthi officials were hiding in Yemen’s capital.

Rahawi became prime minister nearly a year ago, but the de facto leader of the government was his deputy, Mohamed Moftah, who was assigned on Saturday to carry out the prime minister’s duties.

Rahawi was seen largely as a figurehead who was not part of the inner circle of the Houthi leadership.

Arab media reported that there were some 10 attacks in Sanaa. KAN, citing Yemeni media, reported that several Houthi government leaders were killed in an attack inside the presidential palace.

IDF strikes in Yemen

Defense Minister Israel Katz and IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir monitored the attack from military headquarters, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu following from a secure “red phone.”

The IDF confirmed that it struck targets in Sanna related to Houthi rule and governance.

The attacks come after the military shot down two drones earlier on Thursday, launched by the Houthis against Israel.

In addition, the army struck Sanaa, including ballistic missile sites and electricity sites, on Sunday.

Katz warned after the attacks that “after the strike of darkness, comes the strike on the firstborn,” referring to the last two biblical plagues against Egypt. “Anyone who raises a hand against Israel – their hand will be severed.”

At least two Houthi missile launches in past week

The Houthis have been attacking Israel with missiles and drones since October 19, 2023, less than two weeks after Hamas’s October 7 massacre, with Israel only starting counter strikes in July 2024.

None of Israel’s attacks to date have succeeded at stopping Houthi missiles and drones, but no Houthi weapon has killed an Israeli since July 2024.