The IAF on Thursday attacked a group of top Houthi military officials in Sanaa who were watching the Houthi leader give a nationally televised speech.
Public broadcaster KAN, citing Yemeni media, reported that Houthi Prime Minister Ghalib al-Rahawi was killed in the attack. Yemen's Al-Jumhuriya channel reported that al-Rahwi was in an apartment alongside several colleagues when he was killed.
It is likely that the Houthis' Defense Minister, Mohammad Nasser al-Athifi, and Chief of Staff, Mohammad Abd al-Karim al-Ghamari, were killed in the attack.
However, no official death statements for the three Houthi leaders have been released, and Israeli media were careful to emphasize that their status is unknown at this time.
Al-Hadath reported that the IAF targeted homes where senior Houthi officials were hiding in Sanaa.
According to KAN, al-Rahawi had been in his position for a year. He notably did not receive international recognition.
Arab media reported that there were around 10 attacks in Sanaa. KAN, citing Yemeni media, reported that several Houthi government leaders were killed in an attack inside the presidential palace.
IDF strikes in Yemen
Defense Minister Israel Katz and IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir monitored the attack from IDF headquarters, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu following from a secure "red phone."
The IDF confirmed that it struck targets in Sanna related to Houthi rule and governance.
The attacks come after the IDF shot down two drones earlier on Thursday, launched by the Houthis against Israel.
In addition, the IDF struck the Houthi capital of Sanaa, including ballistic missile sites and electricity sites on Sunday.
Katz warned after the attacks that "after the strike of darkness, comes the strike on the firstborn. Anyone who raises a hand against Israel – their hand will be severed."
At least two Houthi missile launches in past week
The Houthis, for their part, fired ballistic missiles at Israel on Friday of last week and Wednesday of this week.
Yemen's Houthis have been attacking Israel with missiles and drones since October 19, 2023, with Israel only starting counterstrikes in July 2024.
None of Israel's attacks to date have succeeded at stopping Houthi missiles and drones, but also no Houthi weapon has killed an Israeli since July 2024.