A wave of Israeli airstrikes hit Yemen’s Sanaa International Airport on Thursday, narrowly missing the World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. The attack, which also injured a United Nations plane crew member, occurred just as the WHO chief was preparing to board a flight.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Tedros described the harrowing experience: “As we were about to board our flight from Sanaa, the airport came under aerial bombardment. One of our plane’s crew members was injured. The air traffic control tower, the departure lounge – just a few metres from where we were – and the runway were damaged.” He confirmed that he and his colleagues were safe.
Houthi-controlled media reported that three people were killed in the airport strike, with another three fatalities recorded in an Israeli attack on the key port city of Hodeidah. At least 40 others were injured in the airstrikes.
The Israeli military stated that its attacks targeted infrastructure used by Yemen’s Houthi forces, alleging that the facilities were utilized for smuggling Iranian weapons and the entry of senior Iranian officials.
The Houthis have fired drones and missiles toward Israel multiple times, calling these actions acts of solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza.
The strikes have further strained Yemen's already dire humanitarian situation. Al Jazeera’s Gabriel Elizondo reported from the UN headquarters in New York that all UN staff in Yemen were accounted for and safely evacuated following the attack. “This was a very close call,” Elizondo said.
The escalation raises concerns about the broader implications of the conflict on Yemen, which continues to face severe humanitarian challenges, including widespread poverty and outbreaks of disease.
