Israeli strikes in Yemen reportedly targeted gathering of Houthi leadership

Hebrew media outlets report that Israel carried out its most dramatic strike yet in Yemen earlier today, aiming to wipe out the Houthi leadership.

According to the reports, citing unnamed security officials, Israeli intelligence learned earlier today that 10 Houthi ministers, including the minister of defense, and senior officials had gathered outside Sanaa to hear a speech by the group’s leader, Abdul Malik al-Houthi.

The IDF then launched a strike targeting the meeting. It remains unclear if the Houthis’ chief of staff, Muhammad Al-Ghamari, was present, the reports say.

Israeli intelligence provided real-time details of the gathering, enabling the strike, which was carried out despite heavy air defenses in the area. As al-Houthi delivered his address, Israel reportedly monitored it to see whether he realized his senior officials were being targeted, and he gave no indication of being aware, the reports say.

The outcome of the strike is not immediately clear.

While officials have cast the strike in dramatic terms, previous Israeli operations in Yemen framed similarly have failed to halt the Houthis’ continued drone and missile attacks during the ongoing war.

The IDF carried out the targeted strike after two IAF interceptions of Houthi drones earlier in the day, marking the second Israeli attack on Yemen this week.

“Whoever raises a hand against Israel, his hand will be cut off,” Defense Minister Israel Katz said in a statement earlier today.