The Houthis announced Saturday that their prime minister, Ahmed al-Rahawi, was killed in an Israeli airstrike on Yemen’s capital, Sanaa. He is the highest-ranking Houthi official to die since Israel and the U.S. launched their joint campaign against the Iranian-backed group.

Strike on Government Gathering

According to the Houthis, al-Rahawi was killed Thursday along with several ministers during a government workshop. Other officials were reported wounded. The strike coincided with a televised speech by rebel leader Abdul Malik al-Houthi, who vowed retaliation against Israel.

Israeli Response

The Israeli military said it had “precisely struck a Houthi terrorist regime military target” in Sanaa but did not immediately confirm al-Rahawi’s death.

Background on Al-Rahawi

Al-Rahawi, originally from Yemen’s Abyan province, was once an ally of former President Ali Abdullah Saleh. He joined the Houthis after they seized Sanaa in 2014 and was appointed prime minister in August 2024.

Broader Conflict

The U.S.-Israeli campaign began after Houthi forces launched missile and drone attacks on Israel and disrupted shipping in the Red Sea, a key global trade route. The Houthis say their actions are in solidarity with Palestinians amid the war in Gaza.

Failed Peace Deal

Earlier this year, the Trump administration reached a deal with the Houthis to halt airstrikes in exchange for ending attacks on shipping. The rebels, however, said they would continue targeting what they consider Israel-linked assets.

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