Houthi PM Killed in Israeli Air Strike on Sanaa; Group Vows “Vengeance”

Tensions in the Middle East continue to escalate as Yemen’s Houthi movement has confirmed the death of its prime minister, Ahmed Ghaleb al-Rahawi, in an Israeli air strike on the capital, Sanaa. The strike, carried out on Thursday, also killed several other ministers, according to a statement released by the Houthi government on Saturday. Al-Rahawi, who served as the head of the Houthi-led government in the areas of Yemen under the group’s control, was reportedly attending a workshop at the time of the attack. While the Houthis did not disclose the exact number of casualties, Israeli media reports, citing unnamed sources, claimed the strike targeted the entire Houthi cabinet, including 12 ministers. In a strongly worded video message following the announcement, Mahdi al-Mashat, the chairman of the Houthi Supreme Political Council, vowed retaliation against Israel. “We shall take vengeance, and we shall forge from the depths of wounds a victory,” he declared. The Israeli military confirmed its involvement, stating that it had targeted “a Houthi terrorist regime military site” in Sanaa. The strike comes amid ongoing hostilities in the region, with Israel embroiled in its war on Gaza and regional militias, including the Houthis, launching attacks in solidarity with Palestinians. Over the past several months, the Houthis have repeatedly launched missile and drone attacks on southern Israel and on Western vessels navigating the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. The group claims its operations are acts of resistance in support of the people of Gaza. On Wednesday, it claimed responsibility for another missile attack on southern Israel, which Israeli forces said was intercepted. Despite the loss of key leadership figures, the Houthi government issued a statement assuring that its institutions remain operational. “The blood of the great martyrs will be fuel and a motivator to continue on the same path,” the statement read. Al-Mashat also reaffirmed the group's long-term strategy, stating they will “continue the path of building our armed forces and developing their capabilities.” “To our people in Gaza, our stance is steadfast, and will remain so until the aggression ceases and the siege is lifted, no matter the scale of the challenge,” he added. The strike that killed al-Rahawi came just four days after another wave of Israeli attacks on Sanaa on August 24, which killed at least 10 people and injured more than 90 others, according to Yemeni health officials. Those strikes reportedly targeted military sites as well as the presidential palace. Commenting on Israel’s intensified focus on the Houthi leadership, Al Jazeera correspondent Hamdah Salhut noted that Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant and other officials have expressed frustration that previous strikes were not effective in deterring the group. “Katz had said he wanted to target their leadership—similar to what Israel has done with assassinations in Hezbollah, Hamas, and Islamic Jihad,” she explained. With the Houthis vowing continued military resistance and Israel promising more strikes against Houthi targets, the conflict appears far from over.

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