News
Israeli Airstrikes Kill Houthi Prime Minister in Sanaa, Reports Say
Israeli airstrikes on Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, killed Iran-backed Houthi Prime Minister Ahmed al-Rahawi on Thursday, along with several of his close associates, according to Yemeni media and Israeli officials. The strikes also targeted other senior figures within the group’s leadership, intensifying the conflict between Israel and the Houthis amid the ongoing war in Gaza.
Al-Rahawi reportedly died in his apartment in Sanaa during the strikes, Yemeni news outlet Al-Jumhuriya reported, while Aden Al-Ghad said multiple aides were also killed in the same attack. Israeli officials said they believe the airstrikes also killed Houthi Defence Minister Mohamed al-Atifi and Chief of Staff Muhammad Abd Al-Karim al-Ghamari, who were attending a cabinet meeting outside the capital. Al-Ghamari had previously been injured in an earlier Israeli operation.
While Israel is still assessing the full scope of the strike, officials said the action was approved by Defence Minister Israel Katz, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and Israel’s military chief of staff, General Eyal Zamir. The timing of the strikes coincided with a scheduled speech by Houthi leader Abdul-Malik al-Houthi, though Israeli sources said the leader himself was not at the targeted location.
Katz issued a sharp warning following the strikes. “As we warned the Houthis in Yemen, after the Plague of Darkness comes the Plague of the Firstborn. Whoever raises a hand against Israel — his hand will be cut off,” he said.
The Israeli military confirmed it had targeted “a Houthi terrorist regime military site” in Sanaa, accusing the Tehran-backed group of working under Iranian guidance to destabilize the region. “The Houthis have operated under Iranian direction and funding to harm the state of Israel and its allies, disrupt global freedom of navigation, and undermine regional security,” the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said in a statement.
The Houthis, who control much of Yemen’s northwest including the capital and Red Sea coastline, have launched a series of drone and missile attacks on Israel and international shipping routes since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war last October. Their actions have prompted a series of heavy retaliatory strikes by Israel and a United States-led coalition, targeting Houthi strongholds in Sanaa, the port city of Hodeida, and other areas.
In May, Israeli airstrikes rendered Sanaa’s airport inoperable. That same month, Washington announced it had reached an agreement with the Houthis to halt Red Sea attacks in exchange for a suspension of Israeli and coalition airstrikes. However, the Houthis later clarified that while they would scale back operations against shipping, their campaign against Israeli-linked targets would continue.
The latest strikes mark a major escalation in Israel’s campaign against Houthi leadership, raising questions over how the group will respond and whether the violence will further destabilize the already fragile security situation across the region.
News
Investigation Underway After Goa Nightclub Fire Kills at Least 25
Authorities in the Indian state of Goa have opened an investigation into a nightclub fire that killed at least 25 people, including several tourists, in one of the region’s most popular party districts. Six others were injured in the blaze, which broke out shortly after midnight in Arpora, a nightlife hub about 25 kilometres from the state capital, Panaji.
Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant confirmed the death toll in a statement posted on X, saying the victims included many of the club’s kitchen staff and a small number of visiting tourists. He added that all the injured were in stable condition and receiving medical treatment. Rescue teams recovered all bodies from the site.
Early reports from local police, cited by the Press Trust of India, indicated that a gas cylinder explosion triggered the fire. Witnesses, however, told the agency that the blaze appeared to start on the club’s first floor, where nearly 100 tourists were dancing at the time. As smoke and flames swept through the building, many people ran toward the lower floor, where they became trapped along with staff members.
Sawant said a formal inquiry would determine the exact cause and whether the club complied with fire safety regulations. He pledged strict action against anyone found responsible, writing on X that any negligence uncovered by investigators would be “dealt with firmly”.
Eyewitnesses described scenes of panic as patrons attempted to flee the burning building. “We rushed out of the club only to see that the entire structure was up in flames,” said Fatima Shaikh, who was inside when the fire began.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered condolences in a message on X, calling the incident “deeply saddening” and wishing the injured a swift recovery.
Local media reported that the club’s location along the Arpora River backwaters posed challenges for emergency crews. A narrow approach road forced fire engines to park about 400 metres from the entrance, slowing their response. Reports also revealed that the building had previously received a demolition notice after officials found it lacked a construction permit. That order was later withdrawn by senior state authorities, according to Arpora councillor Roshan Redkar.
Incidents involving gas cylinders and electrical faults are not unusual in India and often lead to heavy casualties, prompting renewed calls for stronger enforcement of safety standards. Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi criticised the tragedy as a “criminal failure of safety and governance” and urged a transparent investigation to establish accountability and prevent future disasters.
The probe into the fire is expected to assess structural safety, emergency exits and compliance with existing regulations as authorities work to piece together how the late-night gathering turned into one of the deadliest incidents in the state in recent years.
News
White House Unveils “Media Hall of Shame” Portal as Attacks on Press Intensify
News
Russia Launches Massive Overnight Barrage on Ukraine as Peace Talks With U.S. Continue
-
Entertainment1 year agoMeta Acquires Tilda Swinton VR Doc ‘Impulse: Playing With Reality’
-
Business2 years agoSaudi Arabia’s Model for Sustainable Aviation Practices
-
Business2 years agoRecent Developments in Small Business Taxes
-
Home Improvement1 year agoEffective Drain Cleaning: A Key to a Healthy Plumbing System
-
Politics2 years agoWho was Ebrahim Raisi and his status in Iranian Politics?
-
Business1 year agoCarrectly: Revolutionizing Car Care in Chicago
-
Sports1 year agoKeely Hodgkinson Wins Britain’s First Athletics Gold at Paris Olympics in 800m
-
Business1 year agoSaudi Arabia: Foreign Direct Investment Rises by 5.6% in Q1
