Houthi Leadership: Key Figures Who Survived Israeli Strikes

In a major shift in the ongoing conflict, a series of Israeli airstrikes last Thursday "harvested" numerous senior political and military leaders of the Houthi militia in Yemen. The dramatic action, which has sent shockwaves across the Arab world, has reportedly caused widespread panic among the group’s surviving officials, who have fled the capital city of Sana'a for secret hideouts.

In the wake of what some are calling "the harvest," here is a breakdown of the key Houthi figures who remain at the top of the organization.

Houthi Leaders before Operation Lucky Drop

According to the Yemeni outlet Defense Line, Houthi Prime Minister Al-Rahawi was killed in the strikes. Other reports claim that at least 10 ministers were killed, two were seriously wounded, two were lightly wounded, and three others were unaccounted for. Separately, the Houthi presidency confirmed Al-Rahawi’s death along with "a number of ministers," though it did not release names.

In Israel, officials estimate that in addition to the Houthi prime minister, the head of the political bureau, the government's chief of staff, the cabinet secretary, and the ministers of justice, economy, foreign affairs, agriculture, and information were all killed. Israeli military sources believe the Houthi chief of staff and defense minister were not killed in the Sana'a attack.

On Tuesday, a day after a mass funeral in Sana'a, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz issued a stark warning to the surviving Houthi leadership via a post on X, hinting that their locations were known and they would also be targeted. "The rest of the Houthi leadership is fleeing from Sana'a," Katz wrote. "Like all the heads of radical Islamic terror, they care for themselves and abandon their people."

Who’s Still in Charge?

Abdul-Malik al-Houthi - Houthi Leader: Al-Houthi has led the group since his brother’s death in 2004. He is credited with turning the Houthis into a formidable military and political force backed by Iran. He avoids public appearances and delivers his weekly speeches remotely.

Mahdi al-Mashat - Head of the Supreme Political Council: Also known as the "Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces," al-Mashat is a close confidant of al-Houthi. In a statement this week, he confirmed that the prime minister and other ministers were killed by the "Zionist enemy" and vowed to continue their fight.

Muhammad Ahmad Muftah - New Houthi Prime Minister: Muftah was appointed to the position after Al-Rahawi’s death. He is a prominent religious and political figure within the group and a co-founder of its extremist faction.

Muhammad Fadl Abd al-Naba - Commander of the Houthi Naval Force: Abd al-Naba oversees naval operations. He has been responsible for attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea and has vowed to strike any ship that defends Israeli vessels.

Muhammad Ali al-Qadri - Commander of the "Coastal Defense Forces": Al-Qadri is in charge of carrying out attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden using missiles, drones, and remote-controlled boats.

Abu Ali al-Hakim - Head of Military Intelligence: Al-Hakim was reported to have been injured in an Israeli strike in December 2024, but his status was never officially confirmed.

Houthi Spokespersons and Officials

Muhammad Abd al-Salam - Official Spokesman: He is the official spokesman for Ansar Allah, the formal name of the Houthi terror organization. He has been heavily involved in negotiations with other Arab nations.

Yahya Sarea - Houthi Military Spokesman: Sarea gained notoriety during the "Swords of Iron" war for his frequent claims of responsibility for missile and drone attacks. He is considered the group's point person for psychological warfare.

Nasser al-Din Ammar - Senior Official: Al-Din Ammar continues to threaten Israel, saying, "The only thing that will not happen, and is not included in our culture, is that we will retreat or abandon Gaza, Palestine, and the Al-Aqsa Mosque."

Officials Whose Fate is Unknown

The Houthis are maintaining strict secrecy about the fate of several senior political, military, and security officials, raising concerns that they were injured or killed in the attack.

Jalal Ali al-Ruwaishan - Deputy Prime Minister for Defense and Security Affairs: Al-Ruwaishan was seriously wounded in the Israeli attack that killed the prime minister and other ministers. He has not made any public appearances since.

Mohammed Nasser Ahmed al-Atifi - Houthi Defense Minister: Al-Atifi’s fate is also heavily shrouded in mystery after he was wounded in the attack. The Houthis have distributed a written statement attributed to him but have not shown him publicly.

Mohammed Abd al-Karim Ahmed al-Ghumari - Chief of Staff of the Houthi Forces: Al-Ghumari was seriously wounded in the Israeli strikes, with some reports suggesting he was hit outside of Sana'a. The Houthis have released written statements and old photos of him in an attempt to deny his death. In June, an Israeli attempt to assassinate him in a targeted strike failed, and he survived.