Sanaa, Yemen August 28, 2025 (Agencies) — In a dramatic escalation of regional hostilities, the Israeli Air Force carried out a precision airstrike in the heart of Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, killing Prime Minister Ahmad Ghaleb al-Rahawi of the Houthi-controlled government along with several senior cabinet members. The strike marks the first confirmed Israeli decapitation operation against Houthi leadership and signals a widening scope of Israel’s military campaign against Iran-aligned groups in the region.
The attack occurred during a high-level gathering of Houthi officials who had assembled to watch a televised speech by their leader, Abdul-Malik al-Houthi. Israeli intelligence reportedly tracked the meeting in real time, enabling what officials described as a “complex and coordinated operation.” Among the confirmed casualties were Defense Minister Maj. Gen. Mohammad Nasser al-Atifi, Chief of Staff Muhammad Abd al-Karim al-Ghamari, and at least ten senior ministers and advisors, according to Israeli assessments.
The Houthis acknowledged the deaths in an official statement on Saturday, declaring a national day of mourning and appointing Deputy Prime Minister Mohamed Moftah as acting head of government. The Houthi presidency condemned the strike as a “cowardly act of aggression” and vowed to intensify resistance against Israel and its allies.
The airstrike follows months of escalating hostilities between Israel and the Houthis, who have launched over seventy ballistic missiles and dozens of drones toward Israeli territory since March 2025, in declared solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza. The most notable attack occurred in July 2024, when a Houthi missile struck Tel Aviv, killing fourteen civilians and prompting Israel’s first direct military response in Yemen.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz stated, “There will be no tolerance for threats from any front. This operation sends a clear message to all proxies of Iran.” The strike is part of a broader Israeli strategy targeting leadership figures in Hamas, Hezbollah, and now the Houthis, aimed at dismantling command structures and disrupting operational capabilities.
The United Nations has expressed concern over the growing regional spillover of the Gaza conflict, warning that the strike could destabilize fragile peace efforts in Yemen. Iran, a key backer of the Houthi movement, condemned the attack and called for “unified resistance” across the region. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, both previously engaged in the Yemen conflict, have remained cautious in their response, urging restraint while reaffirming their commitment to counterterrorism cooperation.
The strike occurred in a densely populated district of Sanaa, raising fears of civilian casualties and further displacement. Local hospitals reported dozens of injuries, and emergency services struggled to respond amid ongoing airspace restrictions and fuel shortages. Human rights organizations have called for an independent investigation into the strike, citing concerns over proportionality and the targeting of political figures in a non-declared war zone.