WHO chief says he was metres away from Israeli attack on Yemen airport

Fri Dec 27 06:24:36 UTC 2024: ## Israel Strikes Yemeni Airport, Port City; WHO Chief Narrowly Escapes

**Sanaa, Yemen/New York, NY –** A series of Israeli airstrikes on Thursday targeted Yemen’s Sanaa International Airport and the port city of Hodeidah, resulting in casualties and prompting international condemnation. The attacks occurred just moments before World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus was to board a flight from Sanaa. He reported that one of his crew members was injured in the attack, which damaged the airport’s control tower, departure lounge, and runway.

Houthi-run media reported six deaths – three at the airport and three in Hodeidah – and at least 40 injuries. The Israeli military claimed the strikes targeted infrastructure used by the Houthi rebels to smuggle Iranian weapons and facilitate the entry of Iranian officials. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that this was only the beginning of Israel’s campaign against the Houthis.

The UN strongly condemned the attacks, emphasizing that international humanitarian law must be respected and that humanitarian personnel must be protected. UN spokesperson Stephanie Tremblay stated that the Secretary-General is appealing to all parties to respect and protect civilians and civilian infrastructure.

The incident marks a significant escalation in the conflict. Yemeni researcher Raiman al-Hamdani warned that the Houthis’ continued attacks on Israel, coupled with Israel’s response, risk a major and potentially devastating conflict. The Houthis themselves have vowed to retaliate. These latest strikes follow previous Israeli attacks on Sanaa and Hodeidah last week, resulting in further casualties. The US military has also conducted strikes targeting the Houthis in recent days.

The attacks come amidst a wider regional conflict, with the ongoing war in Gaza and Houthi attacks on Israeli territory and shipping lanes in the Red Sea. The Gaza Ministry of Health reports over 45,000 Palestinian deaths, a significant portion being women and children. The situation remains highly volatile and raises significant concerns about regional stability and the safety of humanitarian workers.