Top Houthi officials likely killed in IDF strike on Sanaa, Yemen

Increasing likelihood that Houthi defense minister, military chief were killed as their leader, Abdul-Malik al-Houthi, was giving a televised speech.

The IAF on Thursday attacked a group of top Houthi military officials in Sanaa who were watching the Houthi leader give a nationally televised speech.

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At press time, the results of the attack were still uncertain, but there were increasing indications that the Houthis’ defense minister and military chief were killed in the attack, as well as potentially others.

Despite the rising probability, at least two sources at press time were still more conservative about predicting the outcome of the attacks.

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Defense Minister Israel Katz and IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir monitored the attack from IDF headquarters, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu following from a secure “red phone.”

The IDF confirmed that it struck targets in Sanna related to Houthi rule and governance.

However, Arab media reported that there were around 10 attacks within Sanaa.

The attacks come after the IDF shot down two drones earlier on Thursday, launched by the Houthis against Israel.

In addition, the IDF struck the Houthi capital of Sanaa, including ballistic missile sites and electricity sites on Sunday.

IAF pilots and crew prepare fighter jets for strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen, August 24, 2025 (credit: IDF Spokesperson’s Unit)

At least two Houthi missile launches in past week

The Houthis, for their part, fired ballistic missiles at Israel on Friday of last week and Wednesday of this week.

Yemen’s Houthis have been attacking Israel with missiles and drones since October 19, 2023, with Israel only starting counterstrikes in July 2024.

None of Israel’s attacks to date have succeeded at stopping Houthi missiles and drones, but also no Houthi weapon has killed an Israeli since July 2024.

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