Yemeni Prime Minister al-Rahawi meets tragic end in Israeli aerial assault by Houthi-controlled government.
In a dramatic turn of events, Yemen's Houthi-run prime minister, Ahmad Ghaleb al-Rahwi, along with several ministers, were killed in an Israeli airstrike on the capital city, Sanaa, on Thursday.
The deceased ministers include the energy, foreign, and information ministers, according to sources confirmed to Reuters. Rahwi, who was appointed a year ago, was largely considered a figurehead and was not part of the Houthi leadership's inner circle. His deputy, Mohammed Miftah, has been assigned to carry out his duties following the attack.
The targets of the Houthi airstrike were various locations where a large number of senior Houthi officials had gathered to watch a televised speech recorded by leader Abdul Malik al-Houthi. It is unclear if the statement from Defense Minister Mohamed al-Atifi, who runs the Houthis' Missiles Brigade Group and is considered their leading missiles expert, was made before or after the Houthi airstrike.
Atifi, a former ally to former Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh, has stated in a televised speech that the group is ready to confront Israel. The Houthi-run news agency Saba ran a statement from Defense Minister Mohamed al-Atifi after the prime minister's death was confirmed, quoting him as saying the group is ready to confront Israel.
Mashat, another senior Houthi official, stated in a televised speech that the group's stance remains as it is and will remain until the aggression ends and the siege is lifted, and added that the group "shall take revenge." Since October 2023, the Iran-aligned Houthis have been attacking vessels in the Red Sea, claiming acts of solidarity with the Palestinians.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz stated that the Houthi airstrike was "a crushing blow" against the Houthis, and added that "this is only the beginning." The outcome of the attack is still being verified by Israel.
It is important to note that Israel has carried out a series of assassinations targeting senior leaders and commanders of Hamas and its Lebanese ally Hezbollah over the last year. The attack marks the first time senior officials have been killed in Yemen.
The conflict in Yemen has been ongoing since late 2014, with the country split between a Houthi administration in Sanaa and a Saudi-backed government in Aden. The situation remains complex and volatile, and further developments are expected in the coming days.
Read also:
- Tobacco industry's suggested changes on a legislative modification are disregarded by health journalists
- Trump's Policies: Tariffs, AI, Surveillance, and Possible Martial Law
- Uncovering Political Ad Transparency: A Guide to Investigating opponent's Political Advertisements in the Digital Realm
- Elon Musk praises JD Vance's debate performance against Tim Walz
