The World Health Organization (WHO) Director General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, was present at Sanaa’s international airport in Yemen on Thursday during Israeli air strikes that reportedly resulted in the deaths of at least six individuals. As the attacks commenced, Dr. Tedros mentioned they were preparing to board a plane.
According to the Houthi-run Saba news agency, three casualties occurred at the airport, with an additional 30 people reported injured. The agency also stated that three more casualties and 10 injuries were recorded in the western Hodeidah province. The Houthi group condemned the airstrikes, labeling them as “barbaric.” In response, the Israeli military confirmed that it conducted “intelligence-based strikes on military targets.”
The exact identity of the victims remains uncertain, with ambiguity surrounding whether they were civilians or Houthi militants. Dr. Tedros clarified that his visit aimed to negotiate the release of detained UN staff and evaluate the health and humanitarian situation in Yemen, without disclosing further details of the detainees.
He reported damage to key airport infrastructure, including the air traffic control tower and departure lounge, indicating that repairs would be necessary before they could depart.
UN Secretary General António Guterres expressed his concern, deeming the strikes “especially alarming” and highlighting the need to address escalating tensions between Yemen and Israel.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated that their operations focused on military assets linked to the Houthi regime along Yemen’s west coast and inland territories. Targets included military infrastructure at Sanaa’s airport and various power stations and port sites.
Following the strikes, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu affirmed a commitment to disrupt the influence of what he termed the “Iranian axis of evil,” asserting that actions against the Houthis were just beginning.
On Friday morning, the IDF reported intercepting a missile fired from Yemen before it could reach Israeli territory. Mohammed Ali al-Houthi, a senior leader within the Houthi movement, condemned the assaults as “barbaric” and stated that confrontations with American and Israeli forces would persist until hostilities in Gaza cease.
Injured individuals from the airport incident recounted multiple strikes on the runway before the control tower was hit, with one eyewitness, Dr. Abbas Rajeh, reporting that his hospital treated numerous patients suffering from varying degrees of injuries.
Iran criticized the strikes as a “clear violation of international peace and security,” denouncing Houthi missile attacks on Israeli territory that began soon after the outbreak of the Gaza conflict in October 2023. Israel has responded with retaliatory strikes against Houthi positions. Israel’s defense minister emphasized preparations to deliver a decisive response to the Houthis, warning of potential leadership “decapitation.”
The Houthis, an Iranian-backed political and military group, have controlled significant regions of western Yemen, including the capital, since toppling the internationally recognized government in 2015.
