World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has confirmed he is safe after an Israeli airstrike hit Sanaa International Airport in Yemen. The strike occurred just as Tedros was preparing to board a flight, resulting in considerable damage to the airport’s infrastructure, including the air traffic control tower and departure lounge. Fortunately, Tedros and his team were unharmed, although one crew member sustained injuries.
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) targeted several locations in Yemen, including power stations in the capital Sanaa and the port city of Hodeida. These actions were a response to a rise in missile and drone attacks from Houthi rebels, which Israel alleges are supported by Iran. The IDF indicated that the infrastructure targeted was utilized by the Houthi regime for military operations and the smuggling of Iranian weapons.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has pledged that Israel’s operations in Yemen will persist “until the job is done.” He stressed the commitment to dismantle what he referred to as a “terror arm of the Iranian axis of evil.” The ongoing conflict has intensified tensions in the region, leading to casualties on both sides and significant damage to infrastructure.
The situation remains precarious, with international observers keeping a close watch on the developments. The strikes have disrupted humanitarian efforts and raised alarms about the escalating violence in Yemen.
