Hundreds of mourners poured into the streets of Sanaa on Monday as Houthi leaders and citizens buried senior officials killed in what the group described as an Israeli airstrike.
Zig Diaries
| World
Date:
Monday, 30 August 2025
Time: 15:05 WAT
Location: 📍 Sanaa, Yemen
The funeral, marked by fiery chants against the United
States and Israel, coincided with a fresh Houthi missile attack on a Red Sea
oil tanker, raising fears of a widening conflict.
The service
for Prime Minister Ahmed al-Rahawi, the highest-ranking Houthi official killed
to date, drew vast crowds to the Shaab Mosque. The Houthi-run Al-Masirah TV
broadcast the procession live, showcasing an atmosphere of grief and defiance
as coffins draped in flags were carried through the capital. Alongside
al-Rahawi, ministers of foreign affairs, media and culture, and industry were
also laid to rest.
According to
the Houthi-run government, the airstrike on August 24 targeted a routine
cabinet workshop reviewing the past year’s performance. Several other officials
were injured. The group insists the strike was part of what it calls an
Israeli-U.S. campaign aimed at weakening its political and military leadership.
“This attack
will not silence our resistance. Their blood strengthens our determination,” declared a Houthi spokesman during
the funeral, vowing continued operations against what he termed “enemy
aggression.”
The missile
strike on the Red Sea oil tanker, announced the same day as the funeral,
signals the Houthis’ intent to escalate. While details of the damage remain
unclear, the attack once again threatens one of the world’s busiest maritime
corridors - a choke point critical for global energy supplies.
Al-Rahawi’s
death represents a turning point. Since 2023, the Houthis have repeatedly
targeted Israel with drones and missiles, but their use of cluster warheads
earlier this month drew international alarm. The Israeli-U.S. retaliatory
strike that killed al-Rahawi was seen as a direct warning to the group and its
backer, Iran.
The United
Nations has urged restraint, warning that escalation in the Red Sea risks
destabilising an already volatile region. The Houthis’ renewed maritime
campaign could also reignite fears among shipping companies that had only
recently resumed operations in the corridor after months of attacks earlier
this year.
For the Houthis, the funeral was not only about mourning but also about symbolism: a declaration that leadership losses will be answered with force. The cycle of strike and counter-strike appears poised to intensify, further entangling regional and global powers in Yemen’s war.
Fact-Check & Background Context
The Houthi group, officially known as Ansar Allah, has controlled Sanaa since 2014 and runs a parallel government against Yemen’s internationally recognised administration.
Ahmed al-Rahawi was widely seen as a hardliner within the movement, consolidating its ties to Iran. His killing marks the most significant leadership loss for the Houthis in the Israeli-U.S. campaign.
The Red Sea shipping corridor carries about 12% of global trade. Previous Houthi attacks on tankers and cargo vessels in 2024 caused major disruptions until a U.S.-led naval coalition increased patrols.
The Houthis claim the August 24 airstrike killed officials during a cabinet workshop. Independent verification is difficult due to restricted access in Yemen, but AP and regional media have confirmed strikes occurred in Sanaa that day.
Israel has not officially commented on the strike, consistent with its policy of ambiguity, though U.S. officials have signalled support for efforts to counter Houthi missile capabilities.
🏷 Tags: Yemen, Houthis, Israel, Red Sea, Missile
Attack, Ahmed al-Rahawi, Middle East Tensions, Defence, Zig Diaries
#ZigDiariesDefence #YemenCrisis #RedSeaSecurity #Houthis #MiddleEastTensions
Credit: AP
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