The Houthi rebel movement in Yemen has confirmed that its self-proclaimed Prime Minister, Ahmed Ghaleb Nasser al-Rahawi, was killed in Israeli airstrikes earlier this week.
The Iran-backed group reported that several other senior officials were also killed when the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) targeted Yemen's capital, Sanaa, on Thursday. The IDF stated that it attacked a Houthi military target in the Sanaa area but did not provide further details.
Since 2014, the Houthis have controlled much of north-western Yemen after ousting the internationally recognized government from Sanaa, which has triggered a devastating civil war.
The Houthis indicated that Rahawi was killed alongside several ministers, although the specific identities of the other officials were not disclosed. However, Saudi Arabian news site Al-Hadath reported that the Houthis' foreign minister, as well as ministers for justice, youth and sports, social affairs, and labour, were among the dead.
In a statement, the office of Mahdi Al-Mashat, the Houthis' president, noted that several other ministers sustained moderate and serious injuries due to the strike. It was announced that Muhammad Ahmed Miftah, the Houthi deputy prime minister, would take over Rahawi's role.
Rahawi had been in office since August 2024. The IDF has yet to comment publicly on these developments.
Following the start of hostilities between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, the Houthis have frequently launched missiles at Israel and targeted commercial ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, citing solidarity with the Palestinians. In retaliation, Israel has conducted airstrikes on Houthi-held areas in Yemen.
Recently, the IDF carried out airstrikes against Houthi targets in Sanaa in response to missile attacks claimed by the Houthis, which Israel has described as using cluster munitions.
