WHO Chief Narrowly Escapes Deadly Israeli Airstrike on Yemen Airport
Sanaa, Yemen – A harrowing scene unfolded at Sanaa International Airport in Yemen on Friday as Israeli airstrikes targeted the facility, narrowly missing World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and his staff.
The WHO chief, who was preparing to board a flight, described the terrifying experience on social media, stating, “One of our flight crew members was injured” during the attack.reports from Houthi-controlled media outlets indicate that at least three people were killed and over a dozen injured in the strikes,which also hit power plants and ports in the region.
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed the attacks, claiming they were carried out based on intelligence targeting “military infrastructure” belonging to the Houthi rebels. IDF targets included the airport, power plants in Hezyaz and Ras Kanatib, and locations in the ports of Al-Hudaydah, Salif, and Ras Kanatib along Yemen’s western coast.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, speaking shortly after the strikes, vowed to continue targeting what he called the “terrorist regime” of the Houthis, stating, “We will continue to cut off the arms of the axis of terror, Iran, until we finish the job.We have just begun with (the Houthis).”
Mohammed Ali al-Houthi, head of the Houthi Supreme Revolutionary Committee, condemned the attacks as “barbaric” and “aggressive,” vowing that the “confrontation with American and Israeli arrogance” woudl continue until the conflict in Gaza, Palestine, comes to an end.
Eyewitnesses at Sanaa International Airport described a chaotic scene, with the runway being struck multiple times before the control tower was also hit. Dr. Abbas Rajeh, a physician at the police hospital treating the wounded, reported that ten patients had been admitted, with one fatality, one in critical condition, and the rest suffering from minor injuries or fractures.
Iran, a staunch supporter of the Houthis, denounced the airstrikes as a “clear violation of peace and international security.” The Houthi rebels have been launching attacks against Israel since the early days of the Gaza war, which began in October 2023.
Last week, Houthi missile attacks injured over a dozen people in Israel, prompting retaliatory strikes by Israel against Houthi targets. Earlier this week, Israel’s Defense Minister warned of a “forceful strike” against the Houthis, threatening to “decapitate” the group’s leadership.
The Houthis, a group backed by Iran, have controlled much of western Yemen, including the capital Sanaa, since ousting the internationally recognized government in 2015.
WHO Chief Narrowly Escapes Deadly Israeli Airstrike: A Conversation
Sarah: Did you hear about what happened in Yemen? it sounds absolutely terrifying.
David: I did. It’s horrifying. The Israeli airstrikes on Sanaa Airport, narrowly missing the WHO Director-General Tedros himself, is just the latest escalation in this conflict.
Sarah: So the WHO chief was actually there? What happened?
David: Apparently, Tedros was about to board a flight when the airport was hit. he said on social media that one of his staff members was injured. It’s amazing how close he came to being caught in the crossfire.
Sarah: That’s just awful. What sparked these attacks?
David: Israel says it was targeting “military infrastructure” belonging to the houthis, the rebel group that controls much of Yemen. They claim to have hit the airport, power plants, and ports along the western coast.
Sarah: I’ve heard the Houthis have been attacking Israel, too. Is that right?
David: Yes, that’s correct. Since the war in Gaza began, the Houthis have been launching missile strikes into Israel, causing injuries and raising tensions. This latest round of airstrikes seems to be retaliatory. Netanyahu even said they’ll continue to target the Houthis until they “finish the job.”
Sarah: That sounds incredibly perilous. What do the Houthis say about all this?
David: They condemned the strikes as “barbaric” and vowed to continue their fight until the Gaza conflict is resolved. They see themselves as defending the Palestinian cause against Israel and, by extension, against their ally, the united States.
Sarah: It’s a complicated situation. What about the casualties?
David: Unluckily, reports from Houthi-controlled media indicate at least three people were killed and over a dozen injured in the Sanaa Airport attack alone. A doctor at a local hospital said they received ten patients, with one fatality.
Sarah: So where does this leave Yemen?
David: It’s a devastating situation. Yemen has been ravaged by conflict for years. This latest escalation just adds to the suffering of the Yemeni people caught in the middle of this geopolitical struggle.
