The Iran-backed militants said Prime Minister Ahmed al-Rahawi was killed on Thursday in Sanaa. Israel’s military said it “precisely struck” a Houthi target in Yemen. Follow DW.
Israel identifies remains of second recovered hostage
The remains of a second hostage recovered from Gaza this week have been identified as those of student Idan Shtivi.
A statement from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said: “A special operation … in the Gaza Strip resulted in the return of the body of the late Idan Shtivi.”
On Friday, the Israeli military had said it recovered the body of Ilan Weiss and a second hostage, without initially identifying him.
“After completing the identification process at the Institute of Forensic Medicine, permission was granted this evening to announce his return to Israel,” the prime minister’s office added.
Shtivi was killed on October 7, 2023, at the Nova music festival at the age of 28.
He had been attending as a photographer and tried to flee with two friends, when the festival was attacked by Hamas-led militants.
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum campaign group said the return of Idan Shtivi’s body represented “the closing of a circle and fulfils the State of Israel’s fundamental obligation to its citizens.”
Pro-Palestinian activists gather at Venice film festival
Thousands of people gathered to protest Israel’s blockade of Gaza at the Venice Film Festival. The rally was organized by left-wing political groups in northeast Italy.
Authorities estimated that about 3,000 people joined the demonstration, which began in the early evening a short distance from the festival. Protesters marched slowly to the entrance of the festival in the beachfront Lido district, waving Palestinian flags.
Activists said the film industry should use its public platform at Venice to focus attention on Gaza.
“The entertainment industry has the advantage of being followed a lot, and so they should take a position on Gaza,” Marco Ciotola, a Venice resident, told AFP at the rally.
The film “The Voice of Hind Rajab,” which tells the story of the death of a five-year-old Palestinian girl in the Gaza Strip, is screening at the festival.
Some film stars showed their support for the Palestinian cause. Ahead of the event, an open letter was circulated, denouncing the Israeli government and calling on the festival to speak out against the war more forcefully.
The letter has garnered more than 2,000 signatures from film professionals, including director Guillermo del Toro, whose film “Frankenstein” is one of the highlights of this year’s event.
Houthi rebels confirm prime minister killed in Israeli strike
An Israeli airstrike killed the prime minister of the rebel-controlled government in the Yemeni capital, Sanaa, the Iran-backed Houthis have confirmed.
“We announce the martyrdom of the fighter Ahmed Ghaleb Nasser Al-Rahawi … along with several of his ministerial colleagues, as they were targeted by the treacherous Israeli criminal enemy,” a Houthi statement said.
“Others among their companions were injured with moderate to serious wounds and are receiving medical care since Thursday afternoon,” it added.
Deputy Prime Minister Mohammed Ahmed Miftah was appointed interim prime minister following Rahawi’s death, the Houthis announced separately.
The Israeli military also said that it “precisely struck a Houthi terrorist regime military target in the area of Sanaa in Yemen.”
Ahmed al-Rahawi was killed in a Thursday strike along with a number of ministers during a routine meeting, the statement by the rebel group said.
Al-Rahawi had held the post of prime minister to the Houthi-led government since August 2024.
It comes as Israeli strikes hit targeted areas across Sanaa earlier this week, killing at least 10 people and wounding 102 others, according to the Houthi-run health ministry and government officials.
The Houthis have repeatedly launched missiles against Israel since Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza began. The group has claimed that its attacks against Israel are in solidarity with the Palestinians.
Iran says it disbanded Mossad-linked ‘terrorist’ cell
Iran arrested eight people suspected of belonging to what it called a “terrorist” cell linked to Israel’s Mossad spy agency, Iranian state media reported.
The eight are accused of having provided the coordinates of sensitive sites and details about senior Iranian figures to Israel’s intelligence agency.
The alleged espionage took place during Israel’s air war on Iran in June, when Israeli forces attacked nuclear facilities and killed top military commanders, prompting a missile response from Iran.
A statement from Iran’s Revolutionary Guards alleged that the suspects had received specialized training from Mossad via online platforms.
It said they were apprehended in northeastern Iran before carrying out their plans, and that materials for making launchers, bombs, explosives and booby traps had been seized.
During the 12-day war, as many as 21,000 people were detained, Iranian state media reported, as security forces conducted a crackdown on regime opponents.
Iran has executed at least eight people in recent months, including nuclear scientist Rouzbeh Vadi, who was hanged on August 9 for passing information to Israel about another scientist.
Human rights groups say Iran uses espionage charges and fast-tracked executions as tools for broader political repression.
Source : https://www.dw.com/en/yemen-houthis-confirm-pm-killed-in-israeli-airstrike/live-73818605