Silence and Mystery Surround Houthi Leadership After Israeli Airstrike in Southern Sana’a

Following a precise Israeli airstrike targeting a high-level meeting of Houthi military commanders in southern Sana’a, uncertainty and silence dominate the rebel group. According to Yemeni military sources, the meeting had just concluded when the airstrike occurred, but Houthi Chief of Staff Mohammed Abdulkarim al-Ghamari reportedly remained at the site and is now missing, possibly wounded or killed.

Sources cited by Asharq Al-Awsat revealed that as Israeli warplanes struck targets inside Iran on Saturday night, a powerful explosion shook Sana’a’s diplomatic quarter, shortly after warplanes were heard flying overhead. Civilians confirmed the presence of ambulances and tight security around the site, with access blocked entirely by Houthi forces.

The targeted building is believed to have served as a covert command center for Houthi military operations, one of many secret facilities embedded within residential areas to avoid detection. Israeli media reported that the airstrike aimed at a confidential meeting attended by Ghamari, known as the second-most powerful figure in the group and a key architect of its missile program.

This incident echoes previous strikes on secret Houthi facilities, which were quickly demolished and sanitized to erase evidence. Houthi authorities have yet to confirm or deny the strike, maintaining their pattern of suppressing information regarding senior casualties.

Yemeni government sources also recalled past incidents where the Houthis hid the deaths of high-ranking officials, including the possible killing of Abdulkhaleq al-Houthi, the leader’s brother, during a prior U.S. strike. His disappearance from military functions continues to raise questions.

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