Operation “Lucky Drop”: Israel’s Airstrike Decimates Houthi Leadership in Yemen

In a dramatic escalation of the conflict, the Israeli Air Force launched a precision strike on August 28, 2025, targeting senior Houthi leaders in Yemen’s capital, Sanaa. The operation, codenamed “Lucky Drop,” was one of Israel’s most daring long-range missions in recent years.

The Strike

According to reports, Israeli fighter jets dropped around ten one-ton bombs on a building where top Houthi leaders had gathered. Within five minutes, multiple precision missiles also struck command centers and storage facilities near the presidential palace and Mount Attan in Sanaa. The strikes were carefully coordinated under the supervision of Israel’s Defense Minister and Chief of Staff, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu monitoring developments in real time.

High-Profile Casualties

The attack appears to have inflicted devastating losses on the Houthi leadership:

• Mohamed al-Atifi, the Houthi Defense Minister, is believed to have been killed.

• Major General Muhammad Abd al-Karim al-Ghamari, Chief of General Staff, was also targeted and is presumed dead.

• Ahmed al-Rahawi, the Houthi Prime Minister, reportedly died when his residence in Bayt Baws was destroyed.

• Asaad al-Sharqabi, head of the Houthi Defense Ministry, was also among those killed.

Preliminary estimates suggest that at least 15 senior Houthi officials lost their lives in the strike, effectively crippling the group’s military and political chain of command.

Why It Matters

Unlike previous Israeli responses that targeted infrastructure and missile depots, this operation was a decapitation strike aimed squarely at the top leadership. It marks a strategic shift, designed to paralyze the Houthis’ ability to launch missile and drone attacks on Israel and disrupt shipping in the Red Sea.

Regional Implications

The Houthis, backed by Iran, have in recent months stepped up missile and drone launches toward Israel in solidarity with Gaza. This strike signals that Israel is now prepared to hit the Houthis at their very core, thousands of kilometers away from its borders.

Analysts suggest that the loss of so many senior commanders could cause immediate disarray within the Houthi movement. However, the possibility of retaliation through proxy attacks or regional escalation remains high.

While confirmation from Houthi sources is still lacking, Israeli officials expressed growing confidence that the strike had achieved its objectives. The coming weeks will reveal whether the Houthis can reorganize their leadership or if this marks a turning point in their role as Iran’s regional proxy force.