Israeli Airstrike in Sanaa Kills Houthi Prime Minister and Senior Officials Amid Escalating Regional Tensions

There was an Israeli aerial strike on 29th August, 2025, that targeted a high-level meeting of Houthi leaders in Sanaa, Yemen, and claimed the life of the group's prime minister, Ahmed al-Rahawi, and a handful of high-level ministers. The assault, which was described as a "complex operation," was enabled by real-time intelligence and conducted in defiance of crowded air defenses.

The attack was made during a televised speech by Houthi leader Abdul Malik al-Houthi, who had drawn senior officials to a compound in the capital. While the full roster of the casualties is not confirmed, an initial report is that up to 13 ministers were killed. It is not known what befell Houthi defense minister Muhammad Nasser al-Attafi.

Israel said the strike was meant to lower threats from the Iran-aligned force, which has launched over 70 ballistic missiles and dozens of drones into Israel since March 2025. The Houthis have conducted escalated attacks out of sympathy with Palestinians in Gaza, prompting repeated Israeli retaliation.

The assassination of al-Rahawi, the symbolic leader with very little executive power, is the gravest of the escalations. He has been succeeded by his deputy, Mohamed Moftah. The attack shows the rise of regional instability and the spread of Israel's military activities beyond its borders.