On August 28, 2025, an Israeli airstrike in Sanaa, Yemen, killed Ahmed Ghaleb Nasser al-Rahawi, the prime minister of the Houthi-controlled government.
The attack, confirmed by the Houthis on August 30, 2025, was a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Iran-backed Houthi rebels.
On Thursday, August 28, 2025, Israeli fighter jets carried out a precise airstrike in Sanaa, Yemen’s capital, targeting a villa in the Beit Baws neighborhood.
The strike hit a gathering of senior Houthi officials during a government workshop, killing al-Rahawi and several other ministers.
The Israeli military described it as a “complex operation” enabled by real-time intelligence, aimed at crippling the Houthi leadership. The attack also wounded other officials, with the Houthis reporting at least six deaths and nearly 100 injuries, including civilians.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz called the strike an “unprecedented knockout blow,” stating, “As we warned the Houthis in Yemen: After the plague of darkness comes the plague of the firstborn.”
The operation was approved by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and monitored by IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir, targeting not only al-Rahawi but also other key figures like Houthi Defense Minister Mohamed al-Atifi and Chief of Staff Muhammad Abd al-Karim al-Ghamari, though their deaths remain unconfirmed.
Netanyahu’s camp stated in a recent press release “whoever attacks us, we attack them” warning that Israel will not allow more attacks on it nation.
Who Was Ahmed al-Rahawi?
Ahmed Ghaleb Nasser al-Rahawi was a Yemeni politician from Abyan Governorate, appointed prime minister of the Houthi-led “Government of Change and Construction” on August 10, 2024.
A member of the General People’s Congress party, he was a pragmatic administrator with a history of surviving assassination attempts, including one by Al-Qaeda in 2015.
Despite his role, al-Rahawi was seen as a figurehead, with real power held by Houthi leader Abdul-Malik al-Houthi and his inner circle.
Al-Rahawi was a vocal supporter of Palestinian resistance, aligning with the Houthis’ anti-Israel stance.
After an earlier Israeli strike on August 24, 2025, he said, “Yemen endures a lot for the victory of the Palestinian people.” His role made him a symbolic target, but his death is not expected to significantly disrupt Houthi military operations, as he focused on civilian governance.
Al-Rahawi was targeted due to the Houthis’ growing aggression toward Israel and their role in Iran’s “axis of resistance,” which includes groups like Hezbollah.
Since October 2023, the Houthis have launched over 72 ballistic missiles and 23 drones at Israel, including a deadly attack in Tel Aviv in July 2024.
They also disrupted global trade by attacking ships in the Red Sea, through which $1 trillion in goods passes annually, in solidarity with Palestinians during the Israel-Hamas war.
Israel viewed al-Rahawi’s government as a front for Iran-backed militancy, with the IDF stating, “The Houthis operate under Iranian direction and funding to harm Israel and its allies, undermining regional stability.”
His public support for anti-Israel actions made him a high-profile target, even if his role was largely symbolic.
The assassination was a precision strike by the Israeli Air Force, guided by intelligence that pinpointed a gathering of Houthi leaders watching a televised speech by Abdul-Malik al-Houthi.
Over ten missiles were launched in under five minutes, targeting a villa in Beit Baws and sites near the Houthi-held Presidential Palace.
Despite heavy air defenses in Sanaa, Israel’s intelligence and air superiority enabled the attack, codenamed “Operation Lucky Drop.”
The Houthis condemned it as a “treacherous Israeli criminal enemy” act, with leader Mahdi al-Mashat vowing, “We will take revenge and turn the wounds into a victory.”
Israel’s strike was a response to escalating Houthi attacks, including a missile with cluster munitions fired at Israel on August 24, 2025.
The operation marked a shift from targeting Houthi infrastructure, like Sanaa’s airport and power plants, to their leadership, aiming to disrupt their command structure.
Israel’s strategy was to deter further attacks and weaken Iran’s regional influence, as the Houthis are funded and armed by Tehran.
Protests in Sanaa, Yemen
In Sanaa, the capital of Yemen, tens of thousands of people rallied to protest Israeli airstrikes and military operations in Gaza on August 29, 2025.
The demonstrations, held in Al-Sabeen Square, were led by the Houthi group, who control much of northern Yemen, in response to U.S. airstrikes on Yemen and Israel’s ongoing conflict in Gaza.
Protesters waved Yemeni and Palestinian flags, condemning the attacks as violations against civilians.
Tensions remain high as the Houthis vow to continue supporting Palestinians, potentially escalating regional conflicts.
The Houthi Threat to Other Countries
The Houthis pose a threat to multiple countries due to their attacks on international shipping and missile strikes:
- Israel: The Houthis’ missile and drone attacks, including a July 2024 strike that killed a civilian in Tel Aviv, prompted Israel’s retaliation.
- Saudi Arabia: As part of Yemen’s civil war, the Houthis have launched missiles and drones at Saudi cities and oil facilities, targeting a key U.S. ally.
- United Arab Emirates: The Houthis attacked UAE infrastructure in 2022, escalating tensions with Gulf states opposing their control of Yemen.
- Global Trade (Red Sea Nations): By targeting ships in the Red Sea, the Houthis disrupt trade routes vital to countries like the United States, Egypt (Suez Canal), Europe, and Asia, affecting $1 trillion in annual commerce.
Their actions, backed by Iran, aim to challenge Western and Israeli influence while supporting Palestinian causes, making them a regional destabilizing force.
The Houthi Threat Within Yemen
Inside Yemen, the Houthis control much of the northwest, including Sanaa, since ousting the internationally recognized government in 2014, sparking a civil war that has killed over 150,000 people and caused a humanitarian crisis.
Their governance is authoritarian, suppressing dissent, restricting media, and targeting minorities like Yemen’s Jewish community. They impose strict social controls, exacerbating poverty and hunger for millions.
The Houthis’ missile and drone capabilities, supplied by Iran, also threaten local rivals, including the Saudi-backed government in Aden.
More Important Information
- Houthi Resilience: Despite al-Rahawi’s death, the Houthis quickly appointed Mohammed Ahmed Miftah as acting prime minister, showing their ability to adapt.
- Houthi Defense Minister Mohamed al-Atifi, possibly alive, declared, “The Houthis are ready at all levels to confront the US-backed Zionist enemy.”
- Civilian Impact: The strike caused significant collateral damage, with Houthi media reporting civilian deaths and injuries. Earlier Israeli strikes on August 24, 2025, killed 10 and injured 102 in Sanaa.
- Regional Context: The assassination follows a May 2025 U.S.-Houthi ceasefire deal to halt Red Sea attacks, which the Houthis violated by targeting Israel-linked ships.
- This has heightened fears of a broader Middle East conflict involving Iran, Hezbollah, and other proxies.
- Analyst Perspective: Yemen expert Ahmed Nagi called the strike a “serious setback” for the Houthis, noting Israel’s shift to targeting leaders poses a “greater threat to their command structure.”
The Israeli airstrike that killed Ahmed al-Rahawi on August 28, 2025, was a move to weaken the Houthi leadership and deter their attacks on Israel and global shipping.
The Houthis’ Iran-backed aggression threatens Israel, Saudi Arabia, and global trade, while their control over Yemen fuels internal suffering.
As the Houthis vow retaliation, the risk of further conflict looms large.
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