Israeli airstrikes hit Sana’a, killing Yemen’s Houthi-led government officials PHOTO

Israeli airstrikes targeted Sana’a during a gathering of government officials who had assembled to hear a speech by the leader of the Ansar Allah movement, resulting in the deaths of several senior officials, according to multiple reports.

Ahmed Ghaleb al-Rahawi, the prime minister of Yemen’s Houthi-led government, was killed in the strike, Yemen Monitor reported, citing local sources. Erem News in the UAE also confirmed al-Rahawi’s death, attributing the information to sources in Sana’a.

Israel’s Channel 12 reported that other senior figures killed included Defence Minister Mohammed Nasser al-Atyfi and Houthi Chief of Staff in Sana’a, Mohammed Abd al-Karim al-Ghamari. Over ten airstrikes were recorded across the Yemeni capital, targeting a meeting of officials attending a speech by Houthi leader Abdullah Malik al-Houthi.

Reuters, citing Yemeni military sources, said the strikes occurred near the presidential complex, which reportedly housed the operational headquarters and a missile depot used by “Iran-linked militants.” A source in the Houthi Ministry of Defence, however, denied that any movement members were targeted, claiming that Israel is attacking “civilian targets and Yemenis because of their positions in support of Gaza.”

The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) confirmed carrying out strikes in Yemen but did not specify the targets. Channel 12 reported that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz had approved the operation, which was named “Drop of Luck.”

According to an Israeli source, the killings of senior Yemeni officials had been planned earlier in the week as part of a previous campaign but were executed only recently.

On August 24, Sana’a experienced a series of large-scale airstrikes following a Houthi attack on Israel using cluster munitions, Times of Israel reported. The Houthis claim their actions are in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza and have also targeted ships in the Red Sea, causing significant disruptions to global trade.

Since March 18, when the IDF resumed its offensive against Hamas in Gaza, the Houthis have launched 72 ballistic missiles and at least 23 drones toward Israel.

By Tamilla Hasanova