Outcome of strike not immediately known; unclear if Houthi chief of staff, Muhammad Al-Ghamari, was present at time of attack
By Stav Levaton
The Israeli Air Force on Thursday carried out a targeted strike seemingly aimed at wiping out the military and political leadership of the Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen, in what Hebrew media outlets said was its most dramatic strike in the country yet.
The strike was first reported by the Houthi-run Al Masirah TV, and then confirmed by Defense Minister Israel Katz and the Israel Defense Forces, though they did not confirm the targets.
According to multiple media reports in Israel that cited unnamed security officials, Israeli intelligence learned that 10 Houthi ministers, including the defense minister, and other senior officials, were gathering outside Sanaa to hear a planned speech by the group’s leader, Abdul Malik al-Houthi. The Israeli Air Force then launched a strike targeting the meeting.
Residents of the Houthi-controlled capital told Reuters that the attacks struck an area near the presidential complex and a building in southern Sanaa.
The outcome of the strike was not immediately clear.
It was also not clear which members of the Houthi leadership were present, or if the group’s chief of staff, Muhammad al-Ghamari, was in attendance.
Israeli intelligence provided real-time details of the gathering, enabling the strike, which was carried out despite heavy air defenses in the area, reports said. As al-Houthi delivered his address, Israel reportedly monitored it to see whether he realized senior officials were being targeted, and he gave no indication of being aware, the reports said.
