Israeli Airstrike in Sanaa Kills Yemen Houthi Prime Minister and Senior Ministers

The prime minister of Yemen's Houthi-led government, along with multiple ministers, was killed during an Israeli airstrike on the capital city of Sanaa, according to Mahdi al-Mashat, head of the Houthi Supreme Political Council, on Saturday, August 30. This operation represents the first confirmed strike resulting in the deaths of senior officials within the group.

Al-Mashat reported that several others sustained injuries in the Thursday strike but did not disclose further details regarding their identities or conditions. Israel announced on Friday that the airstrike targeted key figures within the Iran-aligned Houthi movement, including its chief of staff and defense minister, while stating it was still verifying the full impact of the attack.

It remains unclear if the Houthi defense minister was among those killed. The slain prime minister, Ahmad Ghaleb al-Rahwi, had served in the role for approximately one year but was largely regarded as a nominal figurehead, with Mohammed Miftah, his deputy, effectively managing government affairs. Following the attack, Miftah was appointed to fulfill the duties of prime minister.

Al-Rahwi was known for his historical alliance with former Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh, who was ousted by the Houthis in 2014, triggering a prolonged civil conflict. Despite this past, al-Rahwi later aligned with the Houthi administration. Since then, Yemen has been divided between the Houthi-controlled Sanaa government and a Saudi-backed administration based in Aden.

Since the onset of the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza in October 2023, the Houthis have expressed solidarity with the Palestinians through attacks on Red Sea shipping and missile launches toward Israel — most intercepted by Israeli defenses. Israel, in turn, has targeted Houthi-controlled regions, including the strategic port of Hodeidah.

In the past year, Israel intensified its campaign against allied groups Hamas and Hezbollah by eliminating senior commanders, significantly diminishing their operational capabilities.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz described the strike as "a crushing blow" to the Houthis and warned, "this is only the beginning."

Following confirmation of the prime minister's death, a statement from Defense Minister Mohamed al-Atifi, leader of the Houthis' Missile Brigade, was broadcast by the Houthi-run Saba news agency. The statement reaffirmed the group’s readiness to confront Israel but did not reference the recent strike, leaving the timing ambiguous.

Independent sources confirmed that Yemen’s energy, foreign, and information ministers also perished in the strike. Israeli security officials revealed that the strike targeted multiple locations in Sanaa where numerous senior Houthi leaders had gathered to watch a speech by their leader Abdul Malik al-Houthi.

In a televised address, Mahdi al-Mashat declared, "Our stance remains as it is and will remain until the aggression ends and the siege is lifted, no matter how great the challenges. The group shall take revenge."