Israeli Airstrike Kills Houthi Prime Minister and 12 Ministers in Yemen

Yemen’s Houthi group has confirmed that an Israeli airstrike in the capital Sana’a killed its de facto Prime Minister Ahmed al-Rahwi along with 12 cabinet ministers.

According to the Houthis, the strike took place on Thursday while al-Rahwi was attending a workshop with several ministers. The statement added that other officials were also killed, though the exact details have not been disclosed.

Al Jazeera reported that Ahmed al-Rahwi had been serving as the head of government in Houthi-controlled areas.

The Israeli military said in a statement that Thursday’s operation targeted a “military objective of the Houthi terrorist government.” Israel has repeatedly struck Houthi positions in recent months, while the Houthis have continued to launch attacks on Israel and Western shipping routes, describing them as acts of solidarity with Palestinians.

The Houthi presidential office announced on Saturday that despite the deadly strike, its government institutions would continue functioning.

Israeli media, citing unnamed military sources, claimed that the strike aimed to eliminate the entire Houthi cabinet, including the Prime Minister and 12 ministers. However, the exact death toll has not been independently verified.

The attack came just four days after a previous Israeli airstrike on Sana’a on August 24, which killed 10 people and wounded more than 90. At that time, Israel said it had targeted Houthi military facilities and the presidential palace.