Israeli Airstrike Kills Houthi Prime Minister and Multiple Senior Officials in Sanaa

Sanaa, Yemen – An Israeli airstrike on August 28, 2025, in Sanaa, Yemen, resulted in the deaths of Houthi Prime Minister Ahmed al-Rahawi and several other senior Houthi officials. The strike, codenamed Operation Lucky Drop by Israel, targeted a gathering of Houthi leaders, including Defense Minister Mohamed al-Atifi and Chief of Staff Muhammad Abd al-Karim al-Ghamari, though their deaths were not immediately confirmed by Houthi sources. This significant escalation follows a series of Houthi attacks on Israel and international shipping.

The Israeli Air Force (IAF) confirmed the targeted strikes, stating they hit a Houthi military site. According to Israeli media, the operation was executed after intelligence indicated that ten top Houthi officials had convened to watch a televised speech by Houthi leader Abdul-Malik al-Houthi. The Houthis later confirmed the death of al-Rahawi and an unspecified number of ministers, vowing retaliation.

The strike came in response to recent Houthi aggressions, including the launch of two drones towards Israel earlier on August 28, which were intercepted. Days prior, on August 24, intense Israeli airstrikes hit Sanaa after the Houthis fired a cluster bomb at Israel for the first time. The Houthis have consistently launched missiles and drones at Israel since October 2023, stating their actions are in solidarity with Palestinians amid the Gaza conflict.

Following the Israeli strike, Houthi leader Abdul-Malik al-Houthi vowed to continue and escalate missile and drone attacks on Israel. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu affirmed that Israel would persist in targeting Houthi leadership, stating, "This is only the beginning of the campaign targeting senior officials in Sanaa. We will reach all of them."

The ongoing conflict in the Red Sea and Yemen has seen significant disruption to global shipping, with the Houthis targeting vessels they deem linked to Israel. A social media post by Eyal Yakoby on September 1, 2025, commented on the broader conflict, stating:

"Also, the Houthis fired the first shot, not Israel. Another war started by Islamists."

However, recent events indicate a cycle of Houthi attacks prompting Israeli retaliation. The broader Red Sea crisis continues to impact international trade, with major shipping companies rerouting vessels to avoid the volatile waterway.