CAIRO. The prime minister of Yemen’s Houthi-run government, Ahmad Ghaleb al-Rahwi, was killed along with several other ministers in an Israeli airstrike on the capital Sanaa, Houthi officials confirmed Saturday. It is the first strike to claim the life of senior members of the Iran-aligned group.
Mahdi al-Mashat, head of the Houthi Supreme Political Council, said the Thursday attack also wounded several others but did not specify whether Defence Minister Mohamed al-Atifi was among the casualties. Israeli authorities stated the operation had targeted the Houthis’ chief of staff, defence minister and other senior figures, with the outcome still being verified.
Rahwi, appointed a year ago, was largely regarded as a figurehead while his deputy, Mohammed Miftah, has been assigned to carry out prime ministerial duties. Rahwi had been an ally of former Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh before aligning with the Houthis after their takeover of Sanaa in 2014, which triggered a decade-long civil war.
Sources told Reuters that the ministers of energy, foreign affairs and information were also killed. According to Israeli security sources, the officials had gathered at several locations to watch a televised speech recorded by Houthi leader Abdul Malik al-Houthi.
Following the strike, Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz described the operation as “a crushing blow” against the Houthis and warned, “this is only the beginning.”
The Houthis, who control much of northern Yemen, have escalated attacks in the Red Sea since Israel’s war against Hamas began in October 2023. They have frequently launched missiles at Israel, most of which were intercepted, while Israel has retaliated with strikes on Houthi-held areas including the port city of Hodeidah.
The Houthi-run Saba news agency published a statement attributed to Atifi shortly after Rahwi’s death was announced, declaring the group was prepared to confront Israel. The timing of the statement remains unclear.
In a televised address, Mashat vowed retaliation, saying, “Our stance remains as it is and will remain until the aggression ends and the siege is lifted, no matter how great the challenges. We shall take revenge.”
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
