Sanaa, Yemen: Israeli forces carried out precision airstrikes near the Yemeni capital of Sanaa on Thursday, targeting a gathering of senior leaders of the Iran-backed Houthi movement. The operation marks a significant escalation in Israel’s ongoing campaign to neutralize threats from Houthi missile and drone attacks, which have increasingly targeted Israeli territory over the past several months.

According to reports from both Houthi-run media and Israeli officials, the strike targeted a meeting of approximately ten senior Houthi figures, including the group’s defense minister. The officials had gathered outside Sanaa to attend a speech by Houthi leader Abdul Malik al-Houthi. While the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed that a strike had taken place, they did not disclose specific details about casualties or whether the targeted officials were among those killed or injured.

Earlier on Thursday, the IDF intercepted two Houthi-launched drones approaching Israeli airspace, demonstrating the continued threat posed by Houthi attacks. Israel’s Defense Minister, Israel Katz, stated that the operation had been authorized in coordination with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and senior military commanders using Israel’s Red Line command-and-control communication system.

In a separate development, Houthi media reported that Prime Minister Ahmed al-Rahawi was killed in an Israeli strike on a residential building in Sanaa. Analysts suggest this attack was distinct from the earlier operation targeting the leadership gathering, indicating a broader Israeli campaign aimed at degrading Houthi command structures.

Since March 18, the Houthis have launched more than 70 ballistic missiles and at least 20 drones targeting Israel, several of which were successfully intercepted by the Iron Dome and other Israeli missile defense systems. Israel has repeatedly described its strikes as a defensive measure to prevent attacks and disrupt the Houthis’ operational capabilities.

The escalating conflict has raised concerns among regional and international observers, with analysts warning of potential wider instability in the Middle East. The airstrikes follow a pattern of increasing Israeli involvement in Yemen, where Iran-backed Houthi forces have strengthened their military capabilities and expanded attacks beyond their traditional borders.

The international community continues to monitor the situation closely, urging restraint from all parties involved. The strikes underscore the growing complexity of Middle Eastern geopolitics, where proxy conflicts and long-standing rivalries threaten to spark broader confrontations.