Yemen’s Houthi movement said on Saturday that an Israeli airstrike in Sanaa killed Ahmed al-Rahawi, the prime minister of the rebel-run administration, during a meeting on . Israel confirmed a precise strike in the Sanaa area but did not immediately confirm al-Rahawi’s death.
Key Takeaways
- Houthi officials say Prime Minister Ahmed al-Rahawi was killed in a strike in Sanaa on Thursday, along with several ministers; others were wounded.
- Israel said it struck a Houthi “military target” near Sanaa but offered no comment on reports of the premier’s death.
- The meeting was reportedly held at a villa in Beit Baws, southern Sanaa, according to tribal sources cited by the Associated Press.
- Al-Rahawi, appointed in August 2024, is the most senior Houthi official reported killed since U.S.-Israeli strikes began targeting the group’s capabilities.
- The incident follows a series of strikes, including an Aug. 24 hit on an oil facility and a power plant in rebel-held areas.
- Houthis recently launched a ballistic missile toward Israel that Israel described as carrying cluster munitions—the first of its kind since 2023.
- An April U.S. strike in Saada hit a prison holding African migrants, killing at least 68 and wounding 47, according to prior reports.
- Analysts say the escalation suggests a shift from infrastructure strikes to leadership targeting, increasing pressure on Houthi command.
Verified Facts
The Houthi movement announced that Prime Minister Ahmed al-Rahawi was killed during what they described as a routine government workshop reviewing the past year’s performance. Their statement said several ministers also died and others were injured, without releasing a full casualty list.
Three tribal leaders told the Associated Press that the strike hit a gathering of Houthi figures at a villa in Beit Baws, in southern Sanaa. They spoke anonymously due to security concerns. Independent verification of those details remains limited.
The Israel Defense Forces said on Thursday it had precisely struck a Houthi military target in the Sanaa area of Yemen. As of Saturday, the IDF had not confirmed whether al-Rahawi was among the fatalities.
Al-Rahawi, originally from Abyan province, was a former ally of ex-President Ali Abdullah Saleh. He aligned with the Houthis after they seized Sanaa in 2014 and was appointed prime minister in August 2024 to oversee civilian administration in Houthi-held territories.
The Aug. 24 strike on an oil facility and a power plant in rebel-controlled areas came three days after the Houthis launched a ballistic missile toward Israel that Israeli authorities said contained cluster munitions. Earlier this year, an April U.S. strike hit a prison in Saada province, killing at least 68 African migrants and wounding 47, according to local reports cited at the time.
Context & Impact
Analysts view the reported killing as a significant blow to the Houthis’ political apparatus, even if al-Rahawi was not part of the group’s tight inner military circle. The loss complicates governance in Sanaa and may force rapid reshuffles within the rebel movement’s civilian leadership.
Ahmed Nagi of the International Crisis Group described the incident as a serious setback, noting a broader shift from targeting infrastructure to striking senior figures. Such a strategy heightens risks for the movement’s command-and-control and could alter Houthi risk calculus.
The Houthis have framed their regional campaign—including attacks on Red Sea shipping lanes—as retaliation and solidarity with Palestinians amid the Gaza war. Disruptions to maritime routes, through which roughly $1 trillion in goods move annually, have already raised shipping costs and insurance premiums and could intensify if the conflict escalates.
Official Statements
We precisely struck a Houthi terrorist regime military target in the area of Sanaa.
Israel Defense Forces
Yemen endures a lot for the victory of the Palestinian people.
Ahmed al-Rahawi, following an earlier strike
Unconfirmed
- Israel has not publicly confirmed al-Rahawi’s death as of Saturday.
- The exact number of ministers and officials killed or injured has not been disclosed by the Houthis.
- Details about the meeting venue in Beit Baws come from unnamed tribal sources and have not been independently verified.
- Whether the strike was timed to coincide with a televised address by Abdul Malik al-Houthi remains unclear.
Bottom Line
If confirmed, the death of Ahmed al-Rahawi would mark the highest-ranking Houthi political casualty since the start of U.S.-Israeli strikes, signaling a sharper focus on leadership targets. That shift could unsettle the Houthis’ governance in Sanaa and intensify regional escalation risks, including further disruption to Red Sea trade.