Houthi Prime Minister Ahmed al-Rahawi, his aides killed in Israeli strike, confirms Yemen presidency

The Presidency of the Republic of Yemen as well as the Houthi terrorist organisation on Saturday confirmed that Prime Minister Ahmed al-Rahawi and several of his senior associates were eliminated in an Israeli strike on Thursday, August 28. The statement of the presidency of Yemen was shared on the X handle of a media personality from Yemen News Agency Saba. It said, “The Presidency of the Republic of Yemen issued a condolence statement on the martyrdom of the Prime Minister of the Government of Change and Construction, the mujahid Ahmed Ghaleb Al-Rahawi, and several of his comrades from the ministers due to the treacherous Zionist aggression.”

“We declare the martyrdom of the mujahid Ahmed Ghaleb Al-Rahawi, Prime Minister of the Government of Change and Construction, along with several of his ministerial comrades, who were targeted by the criminal and treacherous Israeli enemy,” it said.

The Israel War Room handle on X also confirmed that the Houthi terrorist organisation has announced the elimination of Prime Minister Ahmed al-Rahawi and several of his senior associates.

It said in the post, “The Houthi terrorist organization announced the elimination of Prime Minister Ahmed al-Rahawi and several other senior terrorists.”

Earlier, the IDF confirmed that its Air Force launched a precision strike on a Houthi military target near Sanaa, Yemen, after intercepting two drones earlier in the day. According to Defence Minister Israel Katz’s office, the mission was approved in coordination with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, IDF Chief of Staff Lt Gen Eyal Zamir, and other top commanders through the Red Line communication system.

In a statement, Katz referenced the biblical plagues and said, “After the plague of darkness comes the plague of the firstborn,” suggesting the attack may have specifically targeted high-ranking Houthi officials. The statement aligns with earlier Israeli media reports indicating that political leaders of the Iran-backed group were likely among the intended targets.

The Houthis had then strongly rejected the claims and accused Israel of striking civilian infrastructure and labelled the attack as a violation of international law. Yemen’s Ministry of Public Health and Population had also denounced the action as a “war crime.” Just days earlier, the Houthis had claimed responsibility for launching a missile at southern Israel—an assault that Israeli defences say they successfully intercepted.

Houthis vow to avenge PM’s death in Israeli strikes

Houthi rebels have, meanwhile, vowed to avenge the killing of their prime minister and other political leaders in Israeli strikes.

“We promise to God, to the dear Yemeni people, and the families of the martyrs and wounded that we will take revenge,” the head of the group’s supreme political council, Mehdi al-Mashat, says in a video message posted on Telegram. He also warned foreign companies to leave Israel “before it’s too late.”