Israeli raids in Yemen: Houthis announce the death of their "Prime Minister"

Houthi rebels in Yemen announced on Saturday the death of their prime minister and several ministers in Israeli strikes on the capital Sanaa on Thursday.

"We announce the martyrdom of the fighter Ahmad Ghaleb al-Rahwi, the head of the government, along with several of his ministers in the aggression carried out Thursday by the Israeli enemy while they were meeting in Sanaa," said a Houthi statement quoted by their Al-Massirah channel.

According to the text, "several of their colleagues were injured, some seriously."

The Houthis reported strikes on Sanaa on Thursday, without specifying the targets. The Israeli army said it had bombed a "military target" in the Yemeni capital.

Backed by Iran, the rebels have controlled large swathes of the war-torn country since 2014, including the capital Sanaa, where they have established their political institutions.

Claiming to act in solidarity with the Palestinians in Gaza, which is embroiled in the war between Israel and Hamas, the Houthis regularly launch missile and drone attacks towards Israeli territory, but most are intercepted.

On Wednesday, the Houthis claimed responsibility for a missile strike against Israel, which the Israeli military said was intercepted.

In recent months, they have also attacked ships off the coast of Yemen, which they believe are linked to Israel.

Israel has carried out several retaliatory strikes in Yemen, targeting areas under Houthi control, including ports in the west of the country and Sanaa airport.