A Yemeni anti-Houthi outlet reports that several top figures in the Houthi leadership have not been seen since the Israeli airstrikes that eliminated the group’s so-called government.
According to Defense Line, the fate of four senior officials remains unknown: Mohammed Hassan al-Madani, deputy prime minister and minister for local administration and development; Jalal Ali al-Ruwaishan, also a deputy prime minister in charge of defense and security; Abdel Karim Amir al-Din al-Houthi, the interior minister and uncle of the group’s leader; and Mohammed Nasser al-Atifi, the defense minister.
If confirmed, the disappearance of these figures would signal a major destabilizing blow to the Iran-backed organization that has targeted Israel and international shipping. The uncertainty surrounding their status adds further pressure on the Houthis’ command structure at a time when they are already facing growing internal criticism and external military pressure.
NEWSRAEL: WHY THIS IS IMPORTANT
A sudden vacuum among the Houthis’ most senior leaders could weaken Iran’s regional axis and reduce the group’s ability to threaten Israel and global maritime routes. Such gaps in leadership also highlight Israel’s growing strategic reach against hostile proxies across the region.