Yemen's Houthi Prime Minister Killed In Israeli Airstrike

Yemen has confirmed that the prime minister of the country's Houthi-controlled government was killed yesterday after an Israeli airstrike on the capital of Sana'a.

The strike was targeted towards several prominent Houthi leaders, including the prime minister and defense minister, and multiple ministers were killed. As of right now, the most serious casualty reported was the prime minister, Ahmad Ghaleb al-Rahwi, and his second-in-command, Mohammed Miftah, has temporarily taken his position.

The Houthis maintain control of the Yemeni government, as they have done for over a decade now. In 2014, the organization revolted against the official government, ousting the president at the time. Over the years, a civil war ensued, and the Houthis now hold the northern portion of the country – including Sana'a – while the actual government controls the south and east.

The hit comes amid Israel's intense war with Hamas, the latter of which is supported by the Houthis. The United Nations considers the Houthis an official terrorist organization, and they have been the ones responsible for various incidents involving cargo ships in the Red Sea– the group has repeatedly attacked ships as a form of protesting against Israel's actions in Gaza.

They have also sent missiles towards Israel several times, though Israel has always intercepted almost all of them before attacking back. This is the first time that they have targeted Houthi leaders, though. Israel has struck Hamas and Hezbollah leaders in the past, but they have never taken out a prominent Houthi spokesperson.

However, Israel confirmed yesterday that this is just the beginning, and they plan to obliterate the leaders of the Houthi group just as they have done with Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon. The Houthis, on the other hand, have promised retaliation, which could spark further escalation in the Middle East.

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