In a deadly strike on Yemen’s capital Sana, the Prime Minister of the Houthi government, along with several other ministers, were killed, according to reports from the Houthi-run news agency on Saturday. The attack, attributed to Israeli forces, was confirmed by Mahdi al-Mashat, head of the Houthi Supreme Political Council.
A number of others were wounded in Thursday’s strike, it said, without providing details.
Israel Verifying Outcome
Israel said on Friday that the airstrike had targeted the Iran-aligned group’s chief of staff, defence minister and other senior officials and that it was verifying the outcome.
Mashat’s statement did not make clear whether the Houthi defence minister was among the casualties.
Figurehead
Ahmad Ghaleb al-Rahwi became prime minister nearly a year ago but the de facto leader of the government was his deputy, Mohamed Moftah, who was assigned on Saturday to carry out the prime minister’s duties of Prime Minister.
Rahwi was seen largely as a figurehead who was not part of the inner circle of the Houthi leadership.
‘Complex Operation’
The Israeli military said its fighter jets had struck a compound in the Sanaa area where senior Houthi figures had gathered, describing the attack as a “complex operation” made possible by intelligence-gathering and air superiority.
On Thursday, Israeli security sources said the targets had been various locations where a large number of senior Houthi officials had gathered to watch a televised speech recorded by leader Abdul Malik al-Houthi.
The Iran-aligned Houthis have targeted vessels in the Red Sea, calling it a show of solidarity with the Palestinians in Gaza amid ongoing violence. This move is being framed as part of their broader support for Palestinian resistance against Israeli actions.
They have also fired missiles towards Israel, most of which have been intercepted. Israel has responded with strikes on Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen, including the vital Hodeidah port.
(With inputs from Reuters)
