Late Huthi prime minister Ahmed Rahawi honored at funeral in Sanaa after deadly Israeli air strike.MOHAMMED HUWAIS/AFP via Getty Images
Masked gunmen patrolled the area as thousands of mourners flooded in.
Huthi prime minister Ahmed Ghaleb Nasser al-Rahawi, nine ministers, and two cabinet officials died while attending a government meeting in Sanaa.
The attack represents the highest-profile assassination during Israel’s ongoing operations amid the Gaza war.
The United States also conducted intensive bombing on Huthi targets from March to May this year.
Yemen’s Huthis Vow Retaliation After Israeli Air Strike
The Huthis, part of Iran’s “axis of resistance,” pledged to intensify attacks on Israel.
They have launched missiles and drones at Israel and commercial shipping in the Red Sea.
The Red Sea is a critical maritime corridor for global trade.
On Sunday, the Huthis fired a missile at the Liberian-flagged tanker Scarlet Ray, according to UK Maritime Trade Operations.
The missile landed close to the ship with a “loud bang,” without causing casualties.
Huthi forces have claimed these strikes in solidarity with Palestinians during the Gaza war.
Huthi Detentions Draw UN Protest
The Huthis detained at least 11 United Nations workers on Sunday.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres issued a protest regarding the detentions.
A Yemeni security source stated that dozens of people were arrested in Sanaa and other areas for suspected collaboration with Israel.
The Huthis maintain strict control over the north of Yemen and have historically reserved the premiership for southerners.
Rahawi was originally from Abyan province in southern Yemen, which is mostly outside Huthi control.
Impact of Israeli Targeted Killings
Last week’s strike eliminated about half of the 22-member Huthi cabinet, a primarily administrative body.
US-based Yemen analyst Mohammed Al Basha noted the strike may signal a shift toward targeted killings.
Related: Over 50 ships join Global Sumud Flotilla bound for Gaza
He compared it to the approach Israel used against Hamas and Hezbollah leaders in Lebanon.
Al Basha posted on X, calling it a “bad day” for the Huthis and warning it may mark “the beginning of a campaign of targeted assassinations.”
The attack raises concerns over future targeting of both civilian and military Huthi leadership at informal gatherings.
Regional and International Reactions
Israel has not publicly commented on the specific strike in Sanaa.
The Huthis remain part of the Iran-backed anti-Israeli alliance in the Middle East.
International observers are closely monitoring escalations in Yemen, given its proximity to the Red Sea.
Regional shipping and global trade could be affected if Huthi attacks on vessels continue.
For more on Yemen’s Huthi conflict, see BBC World Middle East Coverage.
The funerals and ongoing tensions underline the volatile security situation in Yemen.
The Huthis’ next steps are closely watched by both regional and global powers.
As tensions rise, the potential for further conflict remains high.
