Saudi media say Houthi commander killed in strike on Hashd al-Shaabi headquarters

TEHRAN, Iran — Saudi-based media outlets reported Thursday that a commander of the Ansar Allah (Houthi) group, Mohammed Khaled al-Ayyash, was killed in airstrikes targeting Hashd al-Shaabi headquarters a day earlier. The Saudi channel Al Arabiya, along with other outlets and news websites, cited unnamed sources saying Ayyash died alongside a group of Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) advisers, and that their bodies were taken to Tehran. The sources said activists affiliated with the group shared photographs of Ayyash on social media, confirming his death. Another group figure, Ahmed al-Junid, announced on X that Ayyash had been lost in the recent strike, without providing further details. According to the same sources, Ayyash was considered an expert in unmanned aerial vehicles and had received advanced training from IRGC specialists, including participation in UAV development and operating programs. No further details were immediately available.