Sana’a– Yemen’s Houthi militia has appointed Mohammed Ahmed Ahmed Muftah as acting Prime Minister following the death of Ahmed al-Rahawi in an Israeli airstrike on the capital, Sana’a. 

The announcement was made by Houthi President Mahdi Al-Mashat, who confirmed Muftah’s elevation from First Deputy Prime Minister to head of the rebel-controlled government.

The leadership change comes amid heightened regional tensions, as Israel intensifies its military campaign against Iran-backed militias in response to repeated missile and drone attacks launched from Yemen. 

Al-Rahawi and several ministers were reportedly killed during a cabinet workshop targeted by Israeli forces on August 28.

Mohammed Muftah now faces the challenge of steering the Houthi administration through one of its most volatile periods. The group has vowed to continue its operations against Israel and Western interests in the Red Sea, framing its actions as part of a broader resistance movement in solidarity with Palestinians.

While the loss of al-Rahawi marks a symbolic blow to the Houthi leadership, analysts note that strategic decision-making remains concentrated in the hands of the group’s supreme leader, Abdul Malik al-Houthi. 

Nonetheless, Muftah’s appointment signals an effort to maintain continuity and resilience within the movement’s governing structure.