The Israeli Air Force launched a major airstrike on Houthi political targets in Sanaa, Yemen, on Thursday, killing the Houthi prime minister, defense minister, and chief of the general staff.
This was the result of a fleeting bit of actionable intelligence that determined the Houthi hierarchy would gather in several locations to listen to a babbling rant by Houthi chieftain Abdul Malik al-Houthi. This allowed a single Israeli strike to decapitate the regime. Some social media sources allege that Israel lured the Houthi leadership to a single location using a deception operation akin to the one executed against Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps; see How Israel Lured Iran's Top Generals to Their Deaths Will Blow Your Mind – RedState.
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At least 10 high-ranking Houthi leaders were casualties, among them Houthi Prime Minister Ahmed al-Rahawi. Minister of Defense Major General Mohamed al-Atifi and Chief of General Staff, Major General Muhammad Abd al-Karim al-Ghamari. The Houthis are, naturally, claiming that none of this happened, the targets were all civilian, and if it did happen, it was only a flesh wound.
The strike was in response to a Houthi missile carrying a cluster munition that was fired at Israel last Friday. This significantly upped the ante. While Israel was willing to bat away drone attacks, firing cluster munitions at Israeli cities was a bridge too far. On Sunday, Israel struck multiple targets in Yemen, hitting a military facility near a presidential palace, a fuel depot, and two power stations.
❗️🇮🇱⚔️🇾🇪 - Israel launches multiple Airstrikes against the Houthi in Yemen's capital Sanaa.
— 🔥🗞The Informant (@theinformant_x) August 24, 2025
An Israeli Air Force investigation determined that a ballistic missile launched from Yemen by the Houthis on Friday night carried a cluster bomb warhead, marking the first use of this… pic.twitter.com/rZfABMxKlt
The operation, code-named "Drop of Luck," was apparently carried out using standoff weapons rather than bombs. This would remove much warning and increase the level of surprise.
"As we warned the Houthis in Yemen: 'After the plague of darkness comes the plague of death.' Whoever raises a hand against Israel, their hand will be cut off," Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said after Thursday’s strike.
We should be under no illusion that this will end the Houthi problem or even modify their behavior. What it does is increase their cost of doing business and makes the lives of their leaders more exciting and surprise-filled.
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