(TJV) The prime minister of Yemen’s Houthi government, Ahmad Ghaleb al-Rahwi, along with several ministers, was killed in an Israeli airstrike on the capital Sanaa, according to a statement released by Houthi media and reported by The Times of Israel. The announcement was made Saturday by Mahdi al-Mashat, head of the Houthi Supreme Political Council, who confirmed multiple casualties from Thursday’s strike.

The Times of Israel noted that while Mashat confirmed the prime minister’s death, he did not clarify whether Defense Minister Muhammad Nasser al-Attafi was among those killed. Israel, for its part, said Friday that the operation was aimed at top Houthi leadership — including the defense minister, chief of staff, and other senior officials — though it was still working to verify the results.

According to The Times of Israel, Israeli fighter jets carried out what the IDF described as a “complex operation” against a compound where senior Houthi figures had gathered. Channel 12 further reported, without citing sources, that the IDF assesses the entire Houthi cabinet, including al-Rahwi and at least 12 ministers, were likely eliminated, though the assessment was not definitive.

Al-Rahwi, who had been prime minister for less than a year, was regarded as a figurehead within the Houthi hierarchy, with real power exercised by his deputy, Mohamed Moftah. Following the strike, Mashat announced Moftah would temporarily assume the prime minister’s duties, The Times of Israel reported.

The strike comes as part of a broader Israeli campaign against the Iran-backed Houthis, who since late 2023 have repeatedly attacked Israel with ballistic missiles, drones, and cruise missiles. According to The Times of Israel, the group halted attacks during the January 2025 ceasefire between Israel and Hamas but resumed launches in March, firing more than 70 ballistic missiles and dozens of drones since then.

At a military assessment Friday, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir described the Houthis as “an additional terrorist branch of Iran” that poses a direct threat to both Israel and international stability. “Our message is clear — there will be no tolerance,” Zamir said, according to The Times of Israel.

Among the top figures believed to have been targeted was al-Attafi, defense minister since 2016, who has long been considered the Houthis’ most senior military official. The Times of Israel added that al-Attafi is known for his close ties to Iran’s Revolutionary Guards and Hezbollah. Also struck was Houthi chief of staff Muhammad al-Ghamari, who had previously been injured in an Israeli raid in June during Israel’s brief war with Iran.

Thursday’s operation marked at least the 16th Israeli strike on Houthi targets in Yemen, roughly 1,800 kilometers from Israel, as the IDF continues efforts to blunt the group’s ability to attack Israeli and international targets, The Times of Israel reported