By Dim Amor

A senior political source confirmed yesterday that Mohammed al-Amri, the senior military commander of the Houthi rebels, was injured in a targeted strike by the Israeli Air Force in the Yemeni capital. The strike was carried out during a gathering of senior Houthi military officials at the organization's Jihad Council in a hideout in the capital Sanaa.

Yemeni media outlets reported on the dramatic strike that took place last night in the capital, with the primary target being al-Amri, known as the "Houthi Chief of Staff." According to reports, alongside the senior commander, his aides were also killed in the targeted attack. A senior political source in Israel confirmed on Sunday morning that al-Amri was indeed injured in the strike.

The strike in Yemen occurred with precise timing parallel to the launch of a barrage of missiles from Iran toward Israel. Israeli Air Force aircraft operated simultaneously on two fronts – executing the targeted strike in Sanaa and intercepting the Iranian missiles. Sirens were activated in northern Israel, including in Haifa and its surroundings and many settlements in the Galilee, and falling interceptor debris was identified.

The latest incident constitutes a direct continuation of the chain of attacks between Israel and the Houthis. On Tuesday this week, the Israeli Navy attacked the port of Hodeidah in Yemen, a strike that provoked an immediate response from the Houthis. Later that evening, the organization launched a missile toward Israel, leading to the activation of sirens in extensive areas across the country.

This week's sirens spread across wide areas – from Gush Dan, through the Lowlands and the South to Jerusalem and its surroundings. The Houthi missile was successfully intercepted by Israeli air defense systems, and no casualties were reported from the launch.

The targeted strike on al-Amri marks a significant shift in Israeli strategy against the Houthis. Instead of focusing on military infrastructure and ports, Israel is directing efforts toward eliminating senior figures in the organization. The move demonstrates detailed intelligence and complex execution capabilities of the Israeli Air Force deep within Yemeni territory.

The Houthis' Jihad Council, where the attacked gathering took place, constitutes the central body for military decision-making in the organization. The strike at a hideout in the capital indicates deep intelligence penetration into Houthi ranks and the ability to locate and attack strategic targets even in the organization's most protected locations.

The intensified military activity in the Yemeni arena occurs as Israel operates in parallel against Iran and its proxies in the region. The coordination between the strike in Sanaa and the interception of Iranian missiles demonstrates the IDF's multi-arena capability to deal with multiple threats simultaneously.

The Houthis, backed by Iran, have continued in recent weeks to threaten shipping in the Red Sea and launch missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles toward Israel. The targeted strike on the senior commander may affect the organization's command and control capabilities in its ongoing military activities.

Photo: According to Section 27A