The prime minister of Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels was reportedly killed in Israeli airstrikes Thursday in the capital Sanaa, according to Yemeni media reports.
Ahmed al-Rahawi reportedly died when Israeli strikes hit his apartment in Sanaa, Yemen’s Al-Jumhuriya channel and the Aden Al-Ghad newspaper reported. The Aden Al-Ghad said several of his associates were also reportedly killed in the same strike.
There was no immediate confirmation from Israel or Houthi officials.
The strikes also reportedly targeted Houthi Defense Minister Mohamed al-Atifi and Chief of Staff Muhammad Abd Al-Karim al-Ghamari during what Israeli sources described as a cabinet meeting of senior officials outside Sanaa, according to Israeli media reports.
Al-Rahawi served as prime minister of the Houthi-led government from August 10, 2024. A member of the General People’s Congress party, he had previously served on the Supreme Political Council.
The Israel Defense Forces confirmed striking “a Houthi terrorist regime military target in the area of Sanaa” on Thursday without providing additional details.
🇾🇪Video captured the moment Israel carried out an attack on the #Yemeni capital, #Sanaa.
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Israeli intelligence received information around 1 p.m. that 10 Houthi ministers and senior officials had gathered outside Sanaa to hear a speech by group leader Abdul Malik al-Houthi, according to the Times of Israel, citing unnamed Israeli security officials.
Israeli Channel 12 reported that assessments suggest the attack succeeded, while Ynet said confidence was growing that senior Houthi leadership was eliminated.
A Houthi defense ministry source reportedly denied that group members were targeted and said Israel was attacking “civilian targets and the Yemeni people because of their positions supporting Gaza.”
Thursday’s attack came four days after Israeli airstrikes on Sanaa killed at least 10 people on Sunday, targeting military installations, power plants and oil facilities under Houthi control.
