Israel Holds Cabinet Meeting in Secure Location After Houthi Assassinations

Following an Israeli airstrike that assassinated several top Houthi officials, including Yemen's Houthi-led government Prime Minister Ahmed Al-Rahawi and multiple ministers, Israel's security cabinet meeting was relocated to a highly secured, alternative site due to fears of retaliatory attacks by the Houthis. The strike, confirmed by the IDF and Shin Bet, also targeted a senior Hamas operative, widely reported as Hamas spokesman Abu Obeida, whose fate remains unclear. The relocation reflects heightened Israeli concern over Yemen's potential direct involvement in the ongoing conflict, with the Houthis vowing retaliation and having launched a ballistic missile intercepted far from Israeli territory. The attack significantly diminished the Houthi leadership, leaving only four ministers believed to be alive, while some senior officials were killed or seriously wounded. Israeli security officials emphasized the new meeting location's resilience against missile threats, underscoring the elevated threat perception following the assassinations. The developments have led to increased security measures and political tensions within Israel, including Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich's boycott of the cabinet session over budget disputes related to security funding.