In a major escalation of regional hostilities, Israeli warplanes conducted a precision airstrike over Sanaa, Yemen that reportedly killed key leadership within the Houthi movement—including Prime Minister Ahmed al‑Rahawi, Defense Minister Mohamed al-Atifi, and Chief of Staff Muhammad Abd al-Karim al-Ghamari —a move Israel views as a strategic decapitation of Iran-backed Houthi infrastructure. The strike, code-named “Operation Drop of Luck”, targeted officials during a televised address by Houthi leader Abdul-Malik al-Houthi.Newsweek
Bombs Over Empty Chairs
Israeli officials claim the operation hit a council meeting of senior Houthi leaders, while Yemeni sources say the prime minister was struck in his Sanaa apartment. Al-Rahawi had served as Houthi Prime Minister since August 2024, overseeing administrative governance in the de facto Houthi state.euronews
Retaliation and Ramifications
This offensive appears to be a direct response to repeated Houthi attacks—including cluster missile launches—against Israel and international shipping in the Red Sea. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz declared the message loud and clear: any aggression against Israel would be met with decisive force.Reddit
The strike symbolizes a broader Israeli campaign to dismantle Iran-backed proxy networks across the region, following successive operations targeting Hezbollah and Hamas leadership.
Uncertain Confirmation, Global Repercussions
Israel continues to analyze the precise outcome while Houthi authorities cautiously dispute the full casualty count. Global reactions are anticipated to be deeply polarized—some will view this as a hard-hitting blow against terrorism; others will condemn it as a grave escalation in regional warfare.
What’s clear: the conflict is increasingly crossing borders and drawing in allies—placing Yemen squarely back on the geopolitical front line.
