Storyline: Yemenis have vowed to defend their country's sovereignty and support war-torn Gaza, even after the Houthi group confirmed that Prime Minister Ahmed Ghaleb al-Rahawi of the Houthi-backed government, along with several other ministers, was killed in Israeli airstrikes on Thursday. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) released a statement on Saturday night confirming that it had targeted a gathering site of high-ranking Houthi officials in Sanaa on Thursday. Among those present at the gathering were Prime Minister Ahmed Ghaleb al-Rahawi and several other senior Houthi leaders. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said on Saturday that the Israel Defense Forces had delivered an "unprecedented heavy blow" to senior Houthi officials in Yemen, adding that the strike, which killed the head of the Houthi administrative body and several other senior leaders, was "only the beginning." Facing intensified Israeli attacks, Yemenis said they will not give up defending their country's sovereignty and remain committed to supporting Gaza. "It is a great loss to lose this lineup and group from the government of the martyred Prime Minister Ahmed Ghaleb Al-Rahwi. But in general terms, we have decided to defend this country. Our support for Gaza is part of defending our nation's sovereignty. The blood spilled today, flowing from Sanaa to Gaza, gives us a greater responsibility to defend Yemen and its choices," said Mohammed Mansour, deputy minister of information. The Houthis, who control much of northern Yemen, have carried out drone and missile attacks on Israel since November 2023 in what they describe as showing solidarity with Palestinians during the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza. Most of the projectiles have been intercepted by Israel. Israel has responded with strikes on Houthi-held areas, targeting airports, power stations and ports in Sanaa and the Red Sea port city of Hodeidah, with Thursday's airstrikes believed to have dealt the most serious blow to the group. Residents in the Yemeni capital, Sanaa, said the brutal Israeli strikes will not dent their determination to remain united with the people of Gaza. "What happened on Thursday -- the assassination of the Prime Minister along with some ministers -- makes us continue and insist on supporting our brothers in Gaza and in Palestine in general," said Amin Al-Zafari, a local resident. "What happened is painful and saddens us deeply. This will not stop us from supporting Gaza. Even if we all perish, this is an Arab issue, a matter of Arab blood. If we fail Gaza, we have no value," said Ma'in Obeid, another resident. Shotlist: Sanaa, Yemen - Aug 24, 2025: 1. Various of smoke rising from site attacked by Israeli warplanes FILE: Sanaa, Yemen - July 9, 2022: 2. Various of Yemeni national flag FILE: Sanaa, Yemen - Jan 16, 2025: 3. Various of traffic Sanaa, Yemen - Aug 31, 2025: 4. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Mohammed Mansour, deputy minister of information (starting with shot 3): "It is a great loss to lose this lineup and group from the government of martyred Prime Minister Ahmed Ghaleb Al-Rahwi. But in general terms, we have decided to defend this country. Our support for Gaza is part of defending our nation's sovereignty. The blood spilled today, flowing from Sanaa to Gaza, gives us a greater responsibility to defend Yemen and its choices." FILE: Sanaa, Yemen - March 26, 2025: 5. Various of traffic Sanaa, Yemen - Aug 31, 2025: 6. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Amin Al-Zafari, Sanaa resident (starting with shot 5): "What happened on Thursday -- the assassination of the Prime Minister along with some ministers -- makes us continue and insist on supporting our brothers in Gaza and in Palestine in general." FILE: Sanaa, Yemen - March 26, 2025: 7. Various of cityscape, national flag of Yemen Sanaa, Yemen - Aug 31, 2025: 8. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Ma'in Obeid, Sanaa resident: "What happened is painful and saddens us deeply. This will not stop us from supporting Gaza. Even if we all perish, this is an Arab issue, a matter of Arab blood. If we fail Gaza, we have no value." FILE: Sanaa, Yemen - March 26, 2025: 9. Various of cityscape, national flag of Yemen. [Restrictions : No access Chinese mainland]