Israel kills members of the Huthi militia government in Yemen

Ahmed al-Rahaui and several Huthi ministers were killed in the attack on a meeting of the militia in the capital Sanaa a few days ago, as the Islamist Shia organization has now announced. Other members were also injured.

Since the beginning of the Gaza war almost two years ago, the Houthi have repeatedly attacked Israel with missiles and drones - according to their own statements, they want to show their solidarity with the Islamist Hamas in Gaza, which is also supported by Iran. In return, Israel's military repeatedly attacks targets in Yemen.

Israel targets leaders of its enemies

Thursday's airstrike in the capital Sanaa once again demonstrates the Jewish state's ability to target leaders of its most important enemies in the region. There have been several examples of this in the recent past.

In 2024, Israel's foreign intelligence service Mossad detonated manipulated pagers and handheld radios belonging to thousands of functionaries of the Hezbollah militia in Lebanon, which is also supported by Iran. Around 40 people were killed and more than 3,000 injured. Mossad agents were also reportedly involved in Israel's major attack against Iran this year, in which leading military personnel and nuclear scientists were killed and nuclear facilities destroyed. And whether in Beirut, Tehran or the Gaza Strip: despite all the protective measures, Israel's security apparatus also managed to kill the top leaders of Hezbollah and Hamas.

Israel's military has now reportedly attacked another senior Hamas official in the city of Gaza. It was initially unclear who the attacker was - however, Israeli media unanimously reported that the target of the attack was the long-standing spokesman of Hamas' military arm, the Qassam Brigades. He is known by his combat name Abu Obeida. He is considered one of the best-known representatives of the terrorist organization and always appeared masked during appearances and video messages.

Death of the Huthi Prime Minister a "symbolic blow"

Although the killed Houthi Prime Minister Al-Rahaui had little actual authority, his death points to Israel's improved ability to target Islamist leaders in Yemen, 2,000 kilometers away, said Ahmed Nagi, Yemen expert at the International Crisis Group, to the Wall Street Journal. The attack dealt the Houthis "a symbolic and psychological blow, even if its strategic impact remains limited as long as their main military commanders remain out of Israel's reach".

At the end of last year, Israel's then Foreign Minister and current Defense Minister Israel Katz had already threatened to "hunt down" all Houthi militia leaders, as Israel has done elsewhere. The target of the airstrike on Thursday was a facility where dozens of leading cadres of the "terrorist Huthi regime" were present, the Israeli military explained on Saturday evening. Al-Rahaui and other senior Huthi representatives were killed in the attack. According to the statement, an intelligence window had been used and a rapid strike had been launched.

The Huthi officially refer to themselves as "Ansar Allah" ("Supporters of God") and are considered the strongest force in Yemen, where civil war has been raging since 2014. The militia has controlled the north of the country for around ten years. The Houthi government in Sanaa is not recognized internationally.

Thousands demonstrate in Israel for an end to the Gaza war

Meanwhile, at a large demonstration in the Israeli coastal metropolis of Tel Aviv, thousands of people once again demanded a swift end to the Gaza war and the release of the hostages in the Gaza Strip from Hamas control. Numerous people gathered in "Hostages Square" in the center of the city and demanded that the government agree to a deal with Hamas for a ceasefire and the release of the hostages.

According to media reports, the security cabinet headed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is to meet again today. However, a proposal for such an agreement, which Hamas says it has already approved, will not be discussed, as reported by TV station N12.

"Tonight the people of Israel received further proof that the Netanyahu government prefers an endless war to the hostages and is thus going completely against the will of the people, even though there is a real possibility of bringing the hostages home," the Forum of Hostage Relatives announced. It called for a further protest today.