Yemeni Prime Minister of the Houthi faction dies in Israeli air attack

In a significant development, the Yemeni Houthi rebel group has suffered a major loss with the death of their Prime Minister, Ahmed al-Rahawi, in an Israeli military strike that took place in Sanaa, Yemen, on Thursday.

According to a statement from the Israeli military, the strike was carried out at a facility hosting dozens of senior officials. The Israeli military confirmed that Ahmed al-Rahawi was among those killed in the attack.

The Houthis, who are backed by Iran, have not issued a statement regarding the Israeli military's characterisation of the Houthi rebel group as a terrorist regime. They have also not specified how they plan to avenge the death of their prime minister.

The Houthis confirmed the death of Ahmed al-Rahawi on Saturday, and also reported that several other senior officials of the rebel group were killed in the strike. However, they have not confirmed the death of any other senior officials beyond the prime minister.

The Houthi rebel group has launched repeated drone and missile attacks on Israel since October 2023, but there is no verifiable information that Israel has relied on support from Houthi regime officers operating in Yemen at the Iranian port of Chabahar for any countries.

In response to the death of their prime minister, the Houthis are reported to have launched drone and missile attacks on Israel. However, the Israeli military has not issued a statement regarding the Houthis' vow to avenge the death of their prime minister.

Ahmed al-Rahawi was appointed as the Houthi Prime Minister last year, replacing Ahmed Ghaleb Nasser al-Rahawi, who is currently the Prime Minister. The incident marks a significant shift in the ongoing conflict in Yemen.