An Israeli airstrike in Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, has killed Ahmed al-Rahawi, the prime minister of the Houthi-controlled government, along with several ministers. The Houthis confirmed the deaths, describing it as the most senior loss for the group since the launch of Israeli-US strikes against the Iranian-backed rebels.
The Strike in Sanaa
According to Houthi officials, al-Rahawi and other members of his government were meeting for a workshop to review the administration’s performance when the villa they were gathered in, located in Beit Baws in southern Sanaa, was struck. Several officials were also wounded.
The Israeli military later confirmed the operation, saying it had “precisely struck a Houthi terrorist regime military target” and eliminated al-Rahawi along with other senior figures accused of coordinating attacks against Israel.
The strike coincided with a televised address by rebel leader Abdul Malik al-Houthi, who was delivering a speech on the Gaza conflict and vowing retaliation. Senior Houthi leaders are known to convene during these broadcasts.
Who Was Ahmed al-Rahawi?
Al-Rahawi, from Yemen’s southern Abyan province, was a former ally of late President Ali Abdullah Saleh before joining forces with the Houthis after they seized Sanaa in 2014. He was appointed prime minister in August 2024 and oversaw day-to-day civilian administration in Houthi-controlled areas, though he was not part of the group’s military leadership.
Just days before his death, he condemned an Israeli strike on Houthi-run oil and power facilities, declaring Yemen’s sacrifices were “for the victory of the Palestinian people.”
Broader Conflict Context
The U.S. and Israel launched their joint campaign against the Houthis in response to the rebels’ missile and drone attacks on Israel and shipping lanes in the Red Sea. The Houthis say their actions are in solidarity with Palestinians amid the Gaza war.
Their assaults on commercial vessels have disrupted one of the world’s busiest maritime routes, through which an estimated $1 trillion in goods passes each year.
Past strikes in Yemen have already caused heavy casualties, including a U.S. attack in April on a prison in Saada province that killed at least 68 African migrants.
Strategic Shift Against Houthi Leadership
Analysts say the killing of al-Rahawi signals a change in Israel’s approach. Ahmed Nagi of Crisis Group International called it a “serious setback” for the Houthis, suggesting that Israel is moving from targeting infrastructure to directly dismantling the group’s leadership structure.
The escalation comes despite earlier U.S. efforts to negotiate a halt to hostilities. In May, the Trump administration announced a deal offering to end airstrikes in exchange for a stop to attacks on Red Sea shipping. The Houthis, however, said the agreement did not prevent them from striking Israeli-linked targets.
Source: Associated Press | Image Source: Google | Image Credit: Respective Owner
