The assassination of the Houthi rebels appointed Prime Minister Ahmed Ghaleb al-Rahawi, while it removes a symbolic civilian figure, it does not materially degrade the Houthis’ capacity for military action or governance, according to SARI Global analysis
On the contrary, it accelerates their shift toward consolidating power in the hands of ideological loyalists and tightening control over civil administration.
Retaliation is inevitable, and with it, Israeli counter-retaliation. The most likely pattern is a contained cycle of escalation, drone and missile launches, maritime harassment, and targeted Israeli strikes, punctuated by periods of tension and disruption.
For organizations in Yemen, SARI Global report added “the greatest risks lie in movement, supply chains, detentions, and reputational exposure”.
The coming weeks will reveal whether this moment remains a contained crisis or transcends the Houthi-Israeli conflict into a new phase.