UN Health Chief Present During Israeli Air Strikes in Yemen's Sanaa Airport

The ongoing conflict in Yemen escalates with Israeli air strikes affecting humanitarian operations, prompting international condemnation.

The head of the World Health Organization (WHO), Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, and other UN personnel were at Sanaa's international airport in Yemen on Thursday when Israeli air strikes began, resulting in the deaths of at least six individuals. Dr. Tedros stated that they were in the process of boarding a flight when the attacks commenced. Reports from Houthi-run Saba news agency claim three fatalities and 30 injuries at the airport, in addition to three deaths and ten injuries in western Hodeidah province. The Iran-backed Houthi group condemned the attacks as "barbaric," while the Israeli military asserted that the strikes targeted military installations.

Dr. Tedros confirmed his safety following the bombardment and announced that he was in Yemen to negotiate the release of UN staff detainees and to evaluate the health and humanitarian situation in the area. He did not provide specifics regarding the detained staff. He remarked on the damage caused at Sanaa's airport, stating, "The air traffic control tower, the departure lounge - just a few meters from where we were - and the runway were damaged," indicating that repairs will need to be made before any departure can occur.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres expressed concern over the escalation of violence, calling the strikes "especially alarming," and lamented the rising tensions between Yemen and Israel. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) released a statement indicating that their air strikes were based on intelligence targeting military assets of the Houthi regime. These included infrastructure at Sanaa Airport and military sites in Al-Hudaydah, Salif, and Ras Kanatib ports. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asserted that Israel would persist in its operations to dismantle what he referred to as the "terror arm of the Iranian axis of evil."

In the aftermath of the attack, Mohammed Ali al-Houthi, head of the Houthi's supreme revolutionary committee, condemned the strikes as "barbaric" and "aggressive." He indicated that confrontations would continue in response to what he described as "American and Israeli arrogance," linking the strikes to the broader conflict in Gaza.

Reports from witnesses at the airport suggest that the runway suffered multiple strikes, resulting in casualties among the injured. A local doctor reported treating ten patients, with one in critical condition and another fatality occurring from the assault. Iran also criticized the air strikes as a "clear violation of international peace and security."

Since the onset of the Gaza conflict in October 2023, Houthi forces have been targeting Israel. Moreover, Israel has retaliated with sporadic strikes against the Houthis. Earlier in the week, an Israeli defense minister warned of significant measures against the group, indicating an intention to disrupt its leadership structure. The Houthis have maintained control over significant portions of western Yemen, which includes Sanaa, after displacing the internationally recognized government in 2015.