The Houthi militia in Sana’a announced today the death of Mohammed Abdul Karim al-Ghamari, the so-called Chief of Staff in its unrecognized government, along with several of his bodyguards, according to a statement released by the group’s military spokesman Yahya Saree.

The Houthis stated that al-Ghamari “was martyred along with some of his escorts and his son,” without specifying the location or time of his death, noting only that he was killed in one of the American or Israeli airstrikes targeting the group’s leaders over the past two years.

The announcement comes weeks after an Israeli airstrike in September that targeted senior Houthi officials, killing the group’s prime minister and several ministers. At the time, the Houthis remained silent about al-Ghamari’s fate, fueling speculation that he had been wounded or killed in the same attack.

Mohammed al-Ghamari was considered one of the most powerful military commanders in the Houthi ranks. He oversaw multiple battlefronts and played a key role in maritime operations against ships in the Red Sea. He was listed among the U.S. sanctions targets and wanted by the Saudi-led coalition.

Observers believe today’s announcement is an attempt by the Houthis to end months of ambiguity surrounding the fate of one of their top commanders, as U.S. and Israeli airstrikes on Houthi positions in Yemen continue to escalate.