Senior leaders of Houthi rebels have reportedly fled the capital Sana’a and relocated to the northern governorates of Saada and Amran following a series of Israeli airstrikes targeting high-level command centers last week.
According to regional media and intelligence sources, the strikes—described as the most extensive Israeli operation in Yemen to date—targeted the presidential compound, military installations, and residential areas believed to house top Houthi officials.
Surviving members of the Houthi’s so-called cabinet and military command are said to have retreated to fortified positions in Saada, the group’s traditional stronghold, and Amran, a strategic buffer zone north of the capital.
Security analysts suggest the relocation signals a shift in Houthi rebels strategy, prioritizing survival and reorganization amid fears of further Israeli targeting. “This is a tactical withdrawal, not a collapse,” said a Yemeni military source. “They are consolidating in terrain they know well, preparing for asymmetric retaliation.”
Meanwhile, humanitarian agencies have raised concerns about civilian casualties and infrastructure damage in Sana’a, where search and rescue operations continue. The escalation has drawn international attention, with calls for restraint amid fears of a wider regional conflict