Israeli Airstrike in Yemen Kills Houthi Prime Minister, Senior Officials

by Emmitt Barry, with reporting from Worthy News Jerusalem Bureau Staff

(Worthy News) – The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed Saturday that it killed Houthi Prime Minister Ahmed al-Rahawi and several members of his Cabinet in a precision airstrike on the Yemeni capital of Sanaa, marking the most significant blow yet to the Iran-backed rebel leadership.

According to Houthi-run media cited by CNN and The New York Times, al-Rahawi and his colleagues were struck while attending a government workshop. The IDF said the facility “hosted dozens of senior officials of the Houthi terrorist regime” responsible for missile attacks, military buildup, and terror activity against Israel.

The strike, carried out more than 2,000 kilometers from Israel, was described by the military as the result of “seizing an intelligence opportunity and completing a rapid operational cycle within a few hours.” Reports from Ynet and Channel 12 suggested the entire Houthi cabinet may have been eliminated, though the IDF said battle damage assessments are ongoing.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz issued a stark warning after the strike: “As we warned the Houthis in Yemen: After the plague of darkness comes the plague of the firstborn. Whoever raises a hand against Israel–his hand will be cut off.”

The Houthis, aligned with Iran, began targeting Israel and Red Sea shipping lanes shortly after Hamas’ October 7, 2023, massacre in southern Israel. Since March, the group has launched more than 70 ballistic missiles and at least 23 drones toward Israel, including a new cluster sub-munition missile days before Thursday’s strike.

While Houthi officials claimed Israel had attacked “civilian targets,” the IDF insisted the operation–codenamed “Drop of Luck”–was aimed squarely at the group’s top political and military leadership. Among those reportedly killed or targeted were Defense Minister Muhammad Nasser al-Attafi and Chief of Staff Muhammad al-Ghamari, both closely linked to Iran’s Revolutionary Guards.

Al-Rahawi, who had served as prime minister since August 2024, is the most senior Houthi leader killed in the ongoing conflict. His death signals a dramatic escalation in Israel’s campaign against the Iranian-backed militia, even as the IDF intensifies operations against Hamas in Gaza.

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