Yemen's Houthi-led government's Prime Minister Ahmed Al-Rahawi speaks during a press conference in Sanaa on June 22, 2025. (Photo by Mohammed Huwais / AFP)
Sanaa: Yemen's Houthis on Saturday said their prime minister had been killed in an Israeli airstrike, the most senior official known to have died in a series of attacks during the Gaza war.
Ahmed Ghaleb Nasser Al-Rahawi, who was appointed last year, was killed along with other officials in the Israeli attack on Thursday, the Iran-backed Houthis said.
Israel has been striking Houthi targets for months in response to missile attacks by the group, who claim solidarity with the Palestinians.
"We announce the martyrdom of the fighter Ahmed Ghaleb Nasser Al-Rahawi... along with several of his ministerial colleagues, as they were targeted by the treacherous Israeli criminal enemy," a Houthi statement said.
"Others among their companions were injured with moderate to serious wounds and are receiving medical care since Thursday afternoon," it added.
On Thursday, Israeli forces said they "struck a Houthi terrorist regime military target". Unsourced Yemeni media reports of Rahawi's death were not confirmed at the time.
The Houthis called the gathering that was hit "a routine workshop organised by the government to evaluate its activities and performance over the past year".
US-based Yemen analyst Mohammed Al Basha said the Israeli operation pointed to a change in strategy after previously targeting infrastructure such as ports and power stations.
"The strikes indicate a shift in Israeli operational focus away from transportation and energy infrastructure toward targeted assassinations of high-value personnel," Basha, author of the Basha Report, told AFP.
It is "an escalation that, regardless of the final casualty count, is likely to shake the Houthi leadership at its core", he added.
"This operation bears the hallmarks of a signals intelligence-driven strike, and it is possible that additional senior Houthi leaders were en route to the location."
Rahawi had made a public appearance on Wednesday, attending an event organised by the Houthi Ministry of Endowments in Sanaa.
He came from the southern province of Abyan, which is not part of the large swathes of Yemen under Houthi control.
Deputy prime minister Mohammed Ahmed Miftah was appointed as interim prime minister following Rahawi's death, the Houthis announced separately.
