An Israeli airstrike killed the prime minister of the Houthi rebel-controlled government in Yemen’s capital Sanaa, the Houthis said on Saturday. Ahmed al-Rahawi was the most senior Houthi official to be killed since the launch of the Israeli-US campaign against the Iran-backed group.
Al-Rahawi died in a Thursday strike alongside several ministers, according to a statement from the Houthis. Other officials were wounded, though details were not provided. The attack hit a villa in Beit Baws, a historic village in southern Sanaa, where Houthi leaders had gathered for what they described as a government workshop to review annual activities.
The Israeli military said it had “precisely struck a Houthi terrorist regime military target in the area of Sanaa.” On Saturday night, it confirmed the killing of al-Rahawi “along with additional senior officials” accused of planning attacks on Israel.
Timing of the strikeThe airstrike coincided with a broadcast by Abdul Malik al-Houthi, the reclusive leader of the group, who vowed retaliation against Israel during a prerecorded speech on the Gaza conflict. Houthi officials are known to gather and watch such speeches together.
Although al-Rahawi was not part of the group’s military inner circle, his role as prime minister made him responsible for civilian administration in Houthi-held areas. He had been appointed in August 2024.
Al-Rahawi, originally from the southern province of Abyan, had been an ally of former Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh before siding with the Houthis when they seized Sanaa in 2014, igniting Yemen’s protracted civil war.
Why he is called “Houthi rebel prime minister” and not “Yemen PM”
Yemen has been divided since the Houthis seized Sanaa in 2014. Two parallel administrations exist:
The internationally recognized Yemeni government, currently based in Aden and backed by Saudi Arabia and its allies.
The Houthi-controlled government in Sanaa, which runs large parts of northern and central Yemen but is not recognized internationally.
Ahmed al-Rahawi was appointed as prime minister by the Houthis in 2024. Since the international community recognizes the Aden-based administration as Yemen’s legitimate government, al-Rahawi is referred to as the “Houthi rebel prime minister” rather than the prime minister of Yemen.
Wider conflict context
The strike came days after Israel targeted oil and power facilities in Sanaa, prompting al-Rahawi to declare, “Yemen endures a lot for the victory of the Palestinian people.”
The Houthis have escalated attacks on ships in the Red Sea, claiming solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza. Their actions have disrupted global trade routes handling about USD 1 trillion worth of goods annually.
Since early 2024, Israel and the United States have intensified joint strikes on Houthi infrastructure and leadership. Dozens of people have been killed, including at least 68 African migrants in an April US strike on a detention facility in northern Sadaa.
Analysts say the killing marks a shift in Israeli strategy. “It poses a greater threat to their command structure,” said Ahmed Nagi of Crisis Group International, describing it as a “serious setback” for the rebels.
Al-Rahawi died in a Thursday strike alongside several ministers, according to a statement from the Houthis. Other officials were wounded, though details were not provided. The attack hit a villa in Beit Baws, a historic village in southern Sanaa, where Houthi leaders had gathered for what they described as a government workshop to review annual activities.
The Israeli military said it had “precisely struck a Houthi terrorist regime military target in the area of Sanaa.” On Saturday night, it confirmed the killing of al-Rahawi “along with additional senior officials” accused of planning attacks on Israel.
Timing of the strikeThe airstrike coincided with a broadcast by Abdul Malik al-Houthi, the reclusive leader of the group, who vowed retaliation against Israel during a prerecorded speech on the Gaza conflict. Houthi officials are known to gather and watch such speeches together.
Although al-Rahawi was not part of the group’s military inner circle, his role as prime minister made him responsible for civilian administration in Houthi-held areas. He had been appointed in August 2024.
Al-Rahawi, originally from the southern province of Abyan, had been an ally of former Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh before siding with the Houthis when they seized Sanaa in 2014, igniting Yemen’s protracted civil war.
Why he is called “Houthi rebel prime minister” and not “Yemen PM”
Yemen has been divided since the Houthis seized Sanaa in 2014. Two parallel administrations exist:
The internationally recognized Yemeni government, currently based in Aden and backed by Saudi Arabia and its allies.
The Houthi-controlled government in Sanaa, which runs large parts of northern and central Yemen but is not recognized internationally.
Ahmed al-Rahawi was appointed as prime minister by the Houthis in 2024. Since the international community recognizes the Aden-based administration as Yemen’s legitimate government, al-Rahawi is referred to as the “Houthi rebel prime minister” rather than the prime minister of Yemen.
Wider conflict context
The strike came days after Israel targeted oil and power facilities in Sanaa, prompting al-Rahawi to declare, “Yemen endures a lot for the victory of the Palestinian people.”
The Houthis have escalated attacks on ships in the Red Sea, claiming solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza. Their actions have disrupted global trade routes handling about USD 1 trillion worth of goods annually.
Since early 2024, Israel and the United States have intensified joint strikes on Houthi infrastructure and leadership. Dozens of people have been killed, including at least 68 African migrants in an April US strike on a detention facility in northern Sadaa.
Analysts say the killing marks a shift in Israeli strategy. “It poses a greater threat to their command structure,” said Ahmed Nagi of Crisis Group International, describing it as a “serious setback” for the rebels.
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