Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has confirmed the successful elimination of Houthi prime minister Ahmed Ghaleb Al Rahwi and multiple senior government officials in a precision strike on Yemen’s capital, announcing that this operation marks the beginning of an expanded military campaign against the rebel organization’s leadership structure.
The targeted assassination occurred while senior Houthi officials gathered to monitor their leader’s public address in Sanaa. Netanyahu’s public celebration of the mission, characterizing it as a “fatal blow” to the organization, signals Israel’s commitment to aggressive action against Iranian-backed groups that threaten regional stability.
The operation represents a response to months of sustained Houthi aggression, including systematic missile attacks on Israeli territory and coordinated disruption of international shipping in the Red Sea. The rebel group’s campaign, which they claim supports Palestinian resistance efforts during the Gaza conflict, has tested Israeli defensive systems and created broader maritime security challenges.
Despite achieving success in eliminating key civilian leadership, the strike failed to neutralize primary military commanders including the chief of staff and defense minister. This mixed outcome has prompted immediate retaliation threats from surviving Houthi leadership, while regional analysts question whether decapitation strategies can effectively deter organizations driven by ideological commitment rather than purely strategic calculations.