UN Health Chief Caught in Yemen Airport Air Strikes Amid Escalating Conflict.
The Director General of the World Health Organization (WHO), Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, and other UN staff were at Sanaa International Airport on Thursday during a series of Israeli air strikes, which reportedly claimed six lives.
The Houthi-run Saba news agency stated that three people were killed and 30 injured at the airport, with another three fatalities and ten injuries reported in Hodeidah province. The air strikes, which also targeted power stations and ports, have been condemned as “barbaric” by the Iran-backed Houthi rebel group.
Dr Tedros, who was unhurt in the attacks, revealed on X (formerly Twitter) that he had travelled to Yemen to negotiate the release of UN detainees and assess the country’s dire health and humanitarian conditions. He described the scene at the airport, noting damage to the air traffic control tower, the departure lounge, and the runway, all just metres from where his team was located.
“We must wait for repairs to the airport before we can leave,” Dr Tedros added.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres expressed alarm over the strikes, describing the escalation as “deeply concerning” and warning of the risk of further instability in the region.
Meanwhile, Israel’s military stated that its strikes were “intelligence-based” and targeted Houthi military infrastructure, including facilities at Sanaa airport, power stations in Hezyaz and Ras Kanatib, and ports along Yemen’s western coast.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended the actions, stating that Israel would “continue to cut off the terror arm of the Iranian axis of evil.”
The air strikes are part of ongoing tensions between Israel and the Houthis, who have been attacking Israeli territory since the Gaza war erupted in October 2023. The Houthis, an armed political and religious group backed by Iran, have ruled significant parts of western Yemen since 2015.
Earlier this week, Israel’s Defence Minister warned of intensified action against the Houthis, vowing to “decapitate” their leadership. In retaliation, Houthi leader Mohammed Ali al-Houthi described the strikes as “aggressive” and reaffirmed their resolve to confront “American and Israeli arrogance.”
The strikes come as Yemen continues to grapple with a prolonged humanitarian crisis, with millions displaced and essential infrastructure in ruins. The conflict between the Houthis and the internationally recognised Yemeni government, compounded by regional and international interventions, has devastated the nation.
The latest escalation highlights the complexities of the Yemeni conflict, with regional power struggles further destabilising the country. International observers fear the ongoing violence will exacerbate the suffering of Yemen’s already beleaguered population.
