Yemeni government officials from the Houthi militia were reportedly slain by Israeli forces
In a series of significant military operations, Israel has targeted key figures in the Houthi militia in Yemen and Hamas in Gaza.
The Houthi president, Ahmed al-Rahaui, was killed in an Israeli airstrike in Sanaa, marking a symbolic blow to the Houthi militia, officially known as "Ansar Allah" ("Supporters of God"). The militia, considered the strongest force in Yemen, controlling the northern part of the country for nearly a decade, has repeatedly targeted Israel with rockets and drones in the ongoing Gaza war.
The Israeli military took advantage of a narrow intelligence window to strike rapidly in the Thursday airstrike, targeting a facility where dozens of senior Houthi officials were present. Alongside Al-Rahaui, several Houthi ministers and other high-ranking representatives lost their lives in the attack.
Meanwhile, in Gaza City, an Israeli airstrike specifically targeted Abu Obeida, the long-serving spokesman of Hamas' military wing, the Kassam Brigades. The identity of the targeted senior Hamas official was confirmed to be Abu Obeida, who was killed in the Rimal neighborhood on August 30, 2025.
The death of Abu Obeida was met with widespread condemnation, with many protesters gathering at "Hostages' Square" in the city center, demanding a deal with Hamas for a ceasefire and the release of captives. Thousands of people also protested in Tel Aviv, calling for an end to the Gaza war and the release of hostages from Hamas' control.
Israel's military has been active not only in Gaza but also in Yemen. In response to the Houthi attacks, Israel reportedly targeted locations in Yemen, a move that Ahmed Nagi, a Yemen expert at the International Crisis Group, believes indicates Israel's improved ability to target Islamist leaders in Yemen, which is over 2,000 kilometers away.
Israel's foreign intelligence agency, Mossad, has been involved in several high-profile attacks this year. In addition to the strikes in Yemen and Gaza, Mossad agents were reportedly involved in Israel's major attack on Iran, resulting in the deaths of leading military figures and nuclear scientists and the destruction of nuclear facilities.
In 2024, Mossad remotely detonated manipulated pagers and handheld devices belonging to thousands of operatives of the Iran-backed Hezbollah militia in Lebanon, killing around 40 people and injuring over 3,000.
The security cabinet is set to reconvene under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanjahu, but a proposal for an agreement with Hamas will not be on the agenda. Israel's then-foreign minister, now defense minister, Israel Katz, threatened to "hunt down" all Houthi leaders, indicating a continued hardline stance from the Israeli government.
The Forum of Hostage Families, however, criticized the Netanjahu government for prioritizing an endless war over the hostages, calling for a peaceful resolution to the conflict. The focus now shifts to the future of the Gaza war and the potential impact of these high-profile assassinations on both the Houthi militia and Hamas.
