Mohammed al-Atifi, who held the position of 'defense minister' in the Houthi terrorist organization's government in Yemen, was killed in a precision airstrike, according to media sources close to Yemen's internationally recognized government. Al-Atifi was considered the second-most important military figure in the Iran-backed terrorist group and was known to be close to leader Abdul-Malik al-Houthi.
Yemeni media outlets report that al-Atifi was the specific target of a precision air operation, possibly carried out by Saudi Arabian fighter jets over Yemeni territory. If his death is confirmed, speculation is already circulating in the Arab world about whether Israel played a role in the elimination.
Several Arab commentators have pointed to Israel's precise intelligence capabilities regarding the locations of hostile actors, noting that Jerusalem has previously assisted in operations against the Houthis, according to these sources.
Al-Atifi was formerly a senior officer in Yemen's official military and even served as head of the intelligence branch before defecting to the Houthi ranks during Yemen's civil war. The Houthis, who control much of northern Yemen including the capital Sanaa, have launched numerous attacks on international shipping and fired missiles and drones at Israel in recent months.
