Israeli strike kills top Houthi commander

Yemen’s Houthi movement announced the death of its Chief of Staff, Muhammad Abd al‑Karim al‑Ghamari, saying he was killed “while fulfilling his duties.” Shortly after the Houthi statement, Israel claimed responsibility for the strike; Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said al‑Ghamari was attacked in an Israeli operation and vowed similar action against future threats.

The Houthis framed al‑Ghamari as a key architect of their military campaign and condemned what they called repeated “brutal” Israeli attacks on Yemen’s people and infrastructure. Houthi leader Abdel‑Malik al‑Houthi praised al‑Ghamari’s role in operations said to have included hundreds of strikes using drones, missiles and other munitions, and vowed that military leaders and forces would carry on the fight. The movement also warned that the conflict with Israel had not ended and said Israel would “receive its deterrent punishment for the crimes it has committed.”

Al‑Ghamari’s death follows earlier Israeli strikes on Sanaa this year that targeted senior Houthi figures and killed members of the Houthi‑run government. The announcement comes amid a fragile, US‑backed ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza; the Houthis have warned they will monitor Israel’s compliance with the truce and resume direct support for Gaza if it is breached. Since the start of Israel’s campaign in Gaza in October 2023, the Houthis have launched missile and drone attacks against Israel and struck vessels in the Red Sea, prompting US and UK strikes on Houthi targets in response.

The incident is likely to heighten tensions across the region and risks further escalation between the Houthis and Israel, as well as complicating international efforts to stabilize the wider conflict linked to Gaza. Houthi statements framed the strike as part of sustained aggression against Yemen that has damaged civilian infrastructure and caused casualties, while Israeli officials presented the action as a defensive measure against a group that has carried out cross‑border attacks and threatened shipping lanes. The death of a senior Houthi commander underscores the volatile dynamics extending beyond Gaza and may prompt renewed military responses and diplomatic concern from regional and Western actors monitoring spillover risks.