Yemeni Houthis threaten retaliation after the demise of the Prime Minister

In a shocking turn of events, the Houthi government in Yemen has appointed a new interim Prime Minister following the death of Ahmad Ghaleb al-Rahwi in an Israeli airstrike on Sanaa. The attack, which also claimed the lives of several other senior officials, was the first such incident to target senior Houthi officials in Yemen.

The airstrike, which occurred on Thursday, targeted various locations where a large number of senior Houthi officials had gathered to watch a televised speech. Among the deceased were the energy, foreign, and information ministers. The head of the Houthi Supreme Political Council, Mahdi al-Mashat, was wounded in the attack.

The prime minister of the Houthi-run government, Ahmad Ghaleb al-Rahwi, was largely considered a figurehead who was not part of the inner circle of the Houthi leadership. Defence Minister Mohamed al-Atifi, who runs the Houthis' Missiles Brigade Group and is considered their leading missile expert, was ready to confront Israel in a statement, without specifying the context. It is unclear if this statement was made before or after the attack.

Israel has responded with strikes on Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen, including the vital Hodeidah port. The Israeli Defence Minister, Israel Katz, described the strike as "a crushing blow" against the Houthis, implying further action. The strike was aimed at the Iran-aligned group's chief of staff, defence minister, and other senior officials.

Following the attack, Mr Miftah, the deputy prime minister, was assigned to carry out the prime minister's duties. The new interim Prime Minister of the Huthi government in Yemen is Mohammed Miftah, who was appointed following the death of Ahmed Ghaleb Al-Rahwi in the airstrike.

The Houthis have frequently fired missiles towards Israel, with most intercepted by Israel's defenses. Since October 2023, the Iran-aligned Houthis have been attacking vessels in the Red Sea, claiming acts of solidarity with the Palestinians.

In a televised speech, Mr Mashat stated that the group "shall take revenge". It is unknown if Abdul Malik al-Houthi, the leader of the Houthis, recorded a televised speech in response to the airstrike. Israel is verifying the outcome of the airstrike.