The Iranian-backed Houthi movement in Yemen has confirmed the killing of its Prime Minister Ahmed Ghaleb Nasser al-Rahawi in an Israeli airstrike that took place earlier in the week. The strike targeted a gathering in Sanaa, the capital of Yemen, and resulted in several other senior officials' deaths, according to the Houthis.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated that the airstrikes were launched in response to intelligence regarding the gathering. Rahawi, who had been in office since August 2024, and other officials were described as being 'eliminated' in the strike. Reports indicate that the Houthis' foreign minister, along with other ministers of justice, youth and sports, social affairs, and labor were also killed. Additional sources have confirmed that several other ministers sustained injuries during the attack.
Notably, the Houthis have controlled significant portions of northwestern Yemen since 2014, following the ousting of the internationally recognized government, which has since led to a prolonged and devastating civil war in the region.
The Houthis have announced that Muhammad Ahmed Miftah, the deputy prime minister, will take over Rahawi's responsibilities. Despite this event, leaders including Abdul-Malik al-Houthi and the group's defense minister were reportedly not among those affected by the airstrike.
With ongoing missile attacks against Israel and retaliatory strikes by Israel targeting Houthi strongholds, this incident significantly escalates the tensions in the region, particularly amid the broader conflict between Israel and Hamas.
