How Israel Found the Secret Meeting Place of Houthi Leaders

Israeli intelligence pinpointed a clandestine gathering of senior Houthi officials in a private villa in Sanaa, leading to a precise airstrike that has plunged the group's leadership into chaos. The operation, involving around 200 officers and soldiers from various Israeli intelligence units, marks what is described as the most significant blow dealt to the Houthis by Israel.

The strike over the weekend eliminated several high-ranking Houthi government figures, prompting widespread confusion and panic within the organization. Funerals for the deceased leaders were held yesterday, amid vows of retaliation from Yemen. However, the status of two key figures, the Houthi Defense Minister and Chief of Staff, remains unclear, with Yemeni claims suggesting they survived, though shrouded in ambiguity.

Israeli officials view these Houthi assertions with skepticism, emphasizing that the group has suffered a substantial setback from which recovery is proving difficult.

According to reports from Kan News, preparations for the operation commenced approximately two months ago. In early July, Israeli Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir and Military Intelligence Chief Binder directed the Military Intelligence Research Division to form a specialized unit dedicated to Yemen. This decision stemmed from the recognition that Israel needed to escalate its response to ongoing Houthi missile launches targeting the country.

The effort brought together about 200 personnel from multiple intelligence agencies in a secure underground bunker, where representatives from the U.S. Central Command were also present. As the operation progressed, intelligence revealed plans for a security meeting involving senior Houthi government and military officials in Sanaa.

Identifying the exact location required time, but it was eventually determined to be a villa in a residential area, likely chosen to conceal the assembly rather than using an official government facility. Once confirmed, the Chief of Staff approved the plans, and political leaders authorized the strike.

The Yemeni outlet Defense Line, associated with anti-Houthi sources, has highlighted the Houthis' imposition of strict secrecy regarding the fates of numerous political, military, and security leaders, raising fears that more were affected by the Israeli action.

While the Houthis conducted burials for their Prime Minister, Ahmed Rahawi, and nine other ministers killed in the strikes on Monday, details about additional senior figures remain tightly controlled.

Jalal Ali Ali al-Ruwaishan, Deputy Prime Minister for Defense and Security Affairs, sustained serious injuries in the attack on the Hadda neighborhood, where the Prime Minister and most government members perished. No public appearances by al-Ruwaishan have been noted four days post-strike.

The condition of Mohammed Nasser Ahmed al-Atifi, the Houthi Defense Minister, is enveloped in uncertainty following his injuries. No specifics have been disclosed, and he has not appeared publicly since the incident. Two days after the strike, Houthi media released a written statement attributed to him, affirming the group's forces' preparedness across all levels in an effort to counter reports of his demise.

Mohammed Abdul Karim Ahmed al-Ghamari, Chief of General Staff for Houthi forces, suffered very serious injuries, with some accounts indicating the incident occurred outside Sanaa. In response to Israeli Defense Forces claims of his death, the Houthis issued written threats attributed to him and circulated old photographs, purporting his attendance at a religious event.

Notably, al-Ruwaishan, al-Atifi, and al-Ghamari were entirely absent from the funeral proceedings for the strike's victims, intensifying doubts about their actual status.

Secrecy also surrounds Mohammed Hassan Ismail al-Madani, Deputy Prime Minister, and Hassan Abdullah Yahya al-Saadi, Minister of Education and Scientific Research. Sources from Defense Line indicate al-Saadi is undergoing medical treatment in a Sanaa hospital. These developments point to broader and more profound damage to the Houthi leadership than publicly acknowledged.