Yemen’s Houthis Vow Retaliation After Top Leaders Killed: Is Israel the Target?
On August 30, 2025, Yemen’s Houthi rebels confirmed a devastating blow to their leadership: an Israeli airstrike on the capital, Sanaa, killed their prime minister, Ahmed Ghaleb al-Rahawi, along with several other ministers and senior officials. The attack, which targeted a government workshop in the Beit Baws neighborhood, marked Israel’s first successful strike against the Houthi leadership, escalating a conflict rooted in the group’s solidarity with Palestinians in the Gaza war. As the Houthis vow revenge, questions arise about whether Israel, and specifically Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, will face the brunt of their retaliation.
The Strike: A Precision Hit on Houthi Leadership
The Israeli airstrike on Thursday, August 28, 2025, targeted a villa in Sanaa where senior Houthi officials had gathered, reportedly to watch a prerecorded speech by their secretive leader, Abdul-Malik al-Houthi. The attack killed Ahmed al-Rahawi, who had served as prime minister of the Houthi-controlled government since August 2024, alongside several ministers, including, according to some reports, the foreign minister and ministers for justice, youth and sports, and social affairs. Others were wounded, with Mahdi al-Mashat, head of the Houthi Supreme Political Council, reporting “moderate and serious injuries” among survivors.
Israel’s Defense Minister Israel Katz described the strike as an “unprecedented knockout blow,” claiming it eliminated or injured the Houthi prime minister and most of his cabinet. The Israeli military confirmed the operation, conducted by fighter jets, targeted a compound housing senior figures responsible for “terror actions” against Israel. The strike’s precision, enabled by robust intelligence and air superiority, marked a shift from Israel’s previous focus on Houthi military infrastructure to targeting their political and military leadership.
Houthi Response: A Vow of Vengeance
The Houthis, an Iran-backed Zaydi Shia militant group controlling much of northwestern Yemen, swiftly condemned the attack and vowed retaliation. Mahdi al-Mashat declared, “We promise to God, to the dear Yemeni people, and the families of the martyrs and wounded that we will take revenge and turn the wounds into a victory.” Houthi Defense Minister Mohammad Nasser al-Atifi echoed this defiance, stating the group was “ready at all levels to confront the US-backed Zionist enemy.” The Houthis framed their response as part of their ongoing support for Palestinians, vowing to continue attacks until Israel ends its military campaign in Gaza.
The group’s rhetoric suggests Israel as the primary target, with al-Mashat warning foreign companies to leave Israel “before it’s too late.” This aligns with the Houthis’ history of launching missiles and drones at Israeli cities and targeting Red Sea shipping to enforce a blockade in solidarity with Gaza. Since October 2023, they have fired over 40 ballistic missiles and dozens of drones at Israel, though most have been intercepted. A notable attack in July 2024 killed a civilian in Tel Aviv, prompting Israel’s first retaliatory strike in Yemen.
Israel’s Strategy and Netanyahu’s Role
The Sanaa strike reflects a strategic shift by Israel, under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, to weaken Iran’s regional proxies through targeted assassinations. Since the Gaza war began in October 2023, Israel has eliminated key figures from Hamas, Hezbollah, and now the Houthis, including Hamas leaders Ismail Haniyeh and Yahya Sinwar, and Hezbollah’s Hassan Nasrallah. Netanyahu, facing domestic and international pressure, has justified these strikes as necessary to counter threats from Iran’s “axis of evil.”
Israel’s Defense Minister Katz, who approved the Sanaa operation alongside Netanyahu and IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, warned, “The Houthis will learn the hard way that whoever threatens and harms Israel will be harmed sevenfold.” Katz’s biblical reference to the “plague of the firstborn” underscored Israel’s intent to escalate against Houthi leadership, signaling more strikes may follow. Netanyahu’s government has also hinted at broader regional operations, with recent strikes on Houthi infrastructure like Sanaa’s airport and Hodeidah port.
Will Israel Be the Target?
The Houthis’ vow of retaliation points directly at Israel, but their capacity to strike effectively is uncertain. Most of their missiles and drones have been intercepted by Israel’s multilayered air defenses or U.S.-led coalitions in the Red Sea. However, a recent ballistic missile attack on August 22, 2025, described as a “cluster bomb,” reached central Israel, indicating potential advancements in Houthi weaponry. The group’s access to Iranian-supplied missiles and drones, combined with their control of Yemen’s Red Sea coast, allows them to disrupt global shipping and target Israel from over 1,000 miles away.
Analysts suggest the Houthis may escalate attacks on Israeli cities or intensify Red Sea shipping disruptions, which have already cost global trade $1 trillion annually. However, their command structure, now weakened by the loss of al-Rahawi and other ministers, faces a “serious setback,” according to Ahmed Nagi of Crisis Group International. The appointment of Mohamed Moftah as acting prime minister indicates the Houthis’ intent to maintain governance, but the loss of experienced leaders could hamper their operations.
Regional and Global Implications
The Sanaa strike risks further destabilizing the Middle East, already tense from the Gaza war and U.S.-led strikes on Houthi targets. The Houthis’ alignment with Iran and their defiance of a May 2025 U.S.-Houthi ceasefire deal, which excluded attacks on Israeli-aligned targets, complicates diplomatic efforts. Israel’s actions, backed by the U.S., have drawn criticism for targeting civilian infrastructure, with a U.S. strike in April 2025 killing 68 African migrants in a Yemen prison.
Netanyahu’s aggressive stance, while bolstering his domestic image, risks provoking a broader conflict. The Houthis’ slogan—“Death to America, Death to Israel, Curse on the Jews”—reflects their ideological commitment to escalation, potentially drawing in Iran or other proxies like Hezbollah. The UN Security Council’s upcoming emergency meeting, requested by Israel to condemn Houthi attacks, may further polarize global responses.
Conclusion
The killing of Yemen’s Houthi prime minister and senior officials in an Israeli airstrike has set the stage for a volatile escalation. The Houthis’ vow of revenge, coupled with their history of targeting Israel and Red Sea shipping, points to heightened tensions, with Netanyahu’s government as a likely focus. While Israel’s precision strikes demonstrate its military reach, they also risk galvanizing Iran’s proxies and destabilizing the region further. As the Houthis regroup under new leadership, the world watches to see whether their retaliation will match their rhetoric or falter under the weight of their losses.
