Yemen’s Houthi movement has confirmed that its prime minister, Ahmed al-Rahawi, was killed in an Israeli airstrike on the capital Sanaa.
Al-Rahawi, who had led the Houthi government in rebel-controlled areas since August 2024, died on Thursday along with a number of ministers during a government workshop, according to a statement released on Saturday. The Houthis said the meeting was convened to review the past year’s activities when it was struck.
The Israeli military confirmed it carried out the strike, describing the target as a “Houthi terrorist regime military site”. Israel has conducted multiple air raids on Houthi-controlled Yemen in recent months, responding to attacks by the group on Israeli territory and on Western shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.
On Friday, Israeli media reported that the entire Houthi cabinet, including al-Rahawi and 12 ministers, were believed to have been killed. The Houthis have not confirmed the total death toll but acknowledged multiple casualties.
The Houthi political leadership insisted that its institutions remain functional, declaring: “The blood of the great martyrs will be fuel and a motivator to continue on the same path.” The group pledged to intensify its support for Palestinians in Gaza and to further strengthen its military capabilities.
The airstrike came just days after Israeli raids on Sanaa killed 10 people and injured more than 90, according to Yemeni health officials. On Wednesday, the Houthis claimed responsibility for a missile fired at southern Israel, which was intercepted.
The Houthis, who control large areas of Yemen following years of conflict that began in 2014, have tied their military operations in the Red Sea and against Israel to solidarity with Palestinians.
The strike that killed al-Rahawi marks one of the most significant Israeli attacks on Houthi leadership since cross-border hostilities escalated following the Gaza war.