Israel Assassinates Yemen’s Prime Minister
- Southerton Business Times
- Sep 1
- 2 min read
The Middle East lurched into deeper instability on August 28, 2025, when Israeli jets assassinated Yemen’s Houthi Prime Minister Ahmed al-Rahawi in a targeted airstrike on Sanaa. The attack, part of an operation codenamed Lucky Drop, also killed several senior ministers and security officials, leaving the fragile Houthi government shaken—but not defeated.
Al-Rahawi and his cabinet were gathered to watch a live-streamed address by Abdul Malik al-Houthi, the group’s leader, when precision missiles struck the compound. According to Israeli media, the mission was personally overseen by Defense Minister Israel Katz and IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir.
Houthi leaders reacted with fury.
“Our revenge is definite and cannot be postponed.”— Mahdi al-Mashat, Head of the Houthi Supreme Political Council
Israel has long used targeted assassinations against hostile leaders. Hamas commanders in Gaza, Hezbollah generals in Lebanon, and now Yemen’s leadership have all been struck. Analysts fear retaliation could target Israeli shipping lanes, diplomatic outposts, or even energy infrastructure in the Gulf.
“This is a dangerous precedent. It could trigger asymmetric warfare.”— Dr. Lina Al-Husseini, Middle East Analyst
Unlikely. The Houthis’ leadership is decentralized, and the movement enjoys Iranian backing in weapons, training, and finance. Former Houthi spokesman Ali Al-Bukhaiti argued:
“This won’t end the Houthis. It will embolden them.”
The assassination may galvanize the group, which has already launched drone and missile strikes against Israeli and Western targets in the Red Sea since late 2023. The strike comes as Israel’s war in Gaza enters its second year, with more than 30,000 Palestinians killed. Regional experts say assassinations form part of a broader Israeli strategy to decapitate resistance groups across the Middle East.
“Israel is trying to dismantle the resistance. But in the process, it may be sowing the seeds of a wider war.”— Dr. Hanan Ashrawi, Palestinian Diplomat
Whether retaliation comes in days or weeks, the assassination of al-Rahawi could mark a turning point—drawing Yemen deeper into the region’s escalating proxy wars.
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