Did an Israeli airstrike target Houthi leaders in Yemen?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Israeli airstrike targeted Houthi leaders in Sanaa.
- High-ranking officials were allegedly present at the meeting.
- Ongoing tensions between Israel and the Houthis signify a complex geopolitical situation.
- Residents reported seeing multiple casualties at the scene.
- The Houthis continue to launch attacks against Israel in solidarity with Palestinians.
Sanaa, June 15 (NationPress) An Israeli airstrike targeted a residential building in Yemen's capital, Sanaa, where a “hidden gathering of high-ranking Houthi leaders” was reportedly occurring, according to an insider affiliated with the Houthi faction.
The residence, situated in southern Sanaa, was secured by heavy Houthi security personnel as ambulances rushed to the area, as reported by Xinhua news agency on Saturday evening.
Local anti-Houthi outlets shared on social media that this clandestine meeting was presided over by Mahdi al-Mashat, the leader of the Supreme Political Council, and Abdulkarim al-Gumari, the military chief of the Houthis.
Additional media reports indicated that the meeting included prominent Houthi figure Abdul-Malik al-Houthi, the head of the Supreme Revolutionary Committee Mohammed Ali al-Houthi, and the chief of Houthi military intelligence Abu Ali al-Hakim.
As of now, the Houthis have not released any formal statement regarding the incident.
A Yemeni security official informed Ynet that al-Gumari also oversees the Houthis' missile program.
Saudi-based outlet Al Hadath reported that the strike hit a residential complex housing Houthi leaders near the Lebanese Hospital, located just south of al-Sabeen Square in the Yemeni capital, Sanaa. This area is known for hosting large weekly demonstrations against Israeli actions.
Local residents reported to Xinhua that they witnessed at least 10 charred bodies at the site.
The Houthi faction, which dominates northern Yemen, has been actively targeting Israel since November 2023, expressing solidarity with the Palestinians amid the current Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza.
The group has vocally condemned ongoing Israeli assaults on Iran, pledging in a statement to escalate long-range missile attacks against Israel.
The Houthis, who govern much of western Yemen and receive support from Iran, have launched numerous missiles toward Israel in recent months, claiming solidarity with Gazan Palestinians. In early May, one of their missiles successfully evaded interception, striking near Ben Gurion International Airport and significantly disrupting air travel.
The Houthis are a part of Iran's “Axis of Resistance” against Israeli and U.S. interests in the region, alongside Hamas and Lebanon's Hezbollah.
While Israel has made efforts to diminish these groups through targeted assassinations and the destruction of military infrastructure since the beginning of the Gaza conflict, the Houthis still remain a formidable force.