Yemen Monitor / Newsroom:
The Israeli army confirmed on Friday that it carried out a large-scale airstrike on the Yemeni capital, Sanaa, on Thursday evening, saying it had targeted the Houthi Chief of Staff and Defense Minister, along with other senior military leaders. It added that it is awaiting verification of the operation’s outcome.
According to a military statement, the strike followed urgent intelligence indicating that a high-level meeting of Houthi leaders was taking place, noting that the operation was conducted swiftly and directly.
The Israeli army also warned of “complex scenarios,” including the possibility of the Houthis escalating their missile attacks against Israel.
Sanaa witnessed more than ten successive explosions shaking several areas, including Jabal Attan west of the city. Circulated photos showed thick plumes of smoke rising from residential and military sites.
For their part, Houthi-affiliated media claimed the strikes had failed to achieve their objectives, describing them as a “failed act of aggression.”
Mahdi al-Mashat, head of the Houthi Supreme Political Council, also denied that any of the group’s leaders were killed, calling the Israeli narrative “fabricated,” and vowing retaliation, saying: “The Houthis’ long arm will teach Israel the appropriate lesson.”
However, multiple sources reported on Thursday that Israeli airstrikes had indeed targeted a meeting of officials from the (unrecognized) Houthi government in Sanaa, killing several leaders, including Prime Minister Ahmed Ghalib al-Rahwi.
The strikes came after Israel approved a plan for assassinations in Yemen, according to Israel’s Channel 12.
Sources told Yemen Monitor that the airstrikes struck the “Bayt Zabara” residence on Iran Street in southern Sanaa.
Other sources indicated that the meeting was not military in nature, but rather a maqil (qat-chewing session) in which officials had gathered to listen to the Houthi leader’s speech that afternoon.
According to the sources, several other officials were also killed in the attack.
