SANAA, Yemen (BN24) — Yemen’s Houthi rebel movement has confirmed that its self-proclaimed Prime Minister, Ahmed Ghaleb Nasser al-Rahawi, was killed in an Israeli airstrike on Thursday. The Iran-backed group also reported the deaths of several other senior officials when the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) targeted the capital, Sanaa, as part of its ongoing military campaign.
The IDF confirmed an airstrike in the Sanaa region, describing the attack as targeting a “military site” linked to the Houthis, but offered no further details about the casualties.
The Houthis, who have controlled much of north-western Yemen since 2014 after ousting the internationally recognized government, claimed that Rahawi, alongside other Houthi ministers, died in the strike. While the names of the other victims have not been fully disclosed, Saudi Arabian news outlet al-Hadath reported that the foreign minister, justice minister, and ministers for youth and sports, social affairs, and labor were among those killed.
The office of Houthi President Mahdi al-Mashat confirmed that several other senior ministers sustained “moderate and serious injuries.” The Houthis also announced that Muhammad Ahmed Miftah, the movement’s deputy prime minister, would take over Rahawi’s role.
Rahawi had held his position as prime minister since August 2024, though he was seen more as a figurehead, with decision-making power largely concentrated within the inner circles of the Houthi leadership. Abdul-Malik al-Houthi, the movement’s top leader, as well as the group’s defense minister and chief of staff, were not reported as casualties in the airstrike.
The IDF has yet to comment on the specific developments or casualties from Thursday’s attack.
The Houthis have been active in the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict, frequently launching missiles at Israel and targeting commercial ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. They have cited solidarity with the Palestinian cause as the motivation for these actions. In response, Israel has carried out airstrikes on Houthi-held areas in Yemen, aiming to disrupt Houthi operations and prevent further attacks.
The ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, and its regional ramifications, have led to increasing tensions, with Yemen’s Houthi group playing a significant role in escalating hostilities across the region.
Credit: Punchng.com
