The UN chief condemns the “escalation” of hostilities between Yemen’s Houthi rebels and Israel, following an attack on Sana’a airport during the World Health Organization’s tenure. He said IDF attacks on targets including Sana’a’s airport were “particularly concerning.” I’m about to board a plane.
Israel on Thursday struck multiple targets in Yemen linked to the Iran-aligned Houthi movement, including the international airport in the capital Sanaa. Houthi media said at least six people were killed.
Spokesperson for UN Secretary-General António Guterres said in a statement: “The Secretary-General condemns the escalation between Yemen and Israel. Today’s Israeli airstrikes on Sana’a International Airport, Red Sea ports and Yemeni power plants are particularly worrying…
“Today’s airstrikes follow nearly a year of escalating actions by the Houthis in the Red Sea and region that threaten civilians, regional stability, and freedom of maritime navigation.”
World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in a social media post on Thursday that he was at the airport as he was about to board a plane when the airstrike hit. He said one crew member on the plane was injured and at least two people were reported dead at the airport.
“The air traffic control tower, the departure lounge just meters from where we were, and the runway were damaged. We must wait until the damage to the airport is repaired before we can depart. United Nations and @WHO My colleagues and I are safe. Our hearts go out to the families who lost loved ones in this attack.”
Tedros said he was in Yemen to negotiate the release of UN personnel held by the Houthis and assess the humanitarian situation.
The Israeli military did not immediately respond to Agence France-Presse’s request for comment on whether it was aware of Tedros’ presence at the time.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday afternoon that the Israeli Air Force had struck Houthi targets along the coastline and in Sanaa, adding: “We are determined to cut off this terrorist wing of Iran’s axis of evil.” We will continue this until we complete the mission. ”
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in an interview with Channel 14 that Israel’s operations against the Houthis have only just begun. “We are just starting to engage with them,” he said.
The Houthis have repeatedly fired drones and missiles at Israel in an act of solidarity with Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.
In addition to the attack on the airport, the Israeli military said it also attacked military infrastructure in the ports of Hodeidah, Salih, and Ras Khanatib on Yemen’s west coast. It also attacked the country’s Hiz Yaz and Ras Kanatib power plants.
The Houthi-affiliated Sabah news agency said three people were killed in the attack on the airport, three others were killed in Hodeidah, and 40 others were injured.
Later on Thursday, the Houthis responded quickly to the attack and said they were ready to deal with “escalation after escalation,” Houthi-run Al Masira TV reported.
The Houthi transport minister told Sabah that the airport and Hodeidah port will resume normal operations from Friday.
More than a year of Houthi attacks have disrupted international shipping routes, forcing companies to reroute to longer and more expensive routes and raising concerns about global inflation.
Israel’s U.N. Ambassador Danny Danon said Wednesday that the U.N. Security Council is scheduled to meet on Monday over the Houthi attack on Israel.
On Saturday, Israeli forces failed to intercept a missile from Yemen that fell in the Tel Aviv-Jaffa area, injuring 14 people.
Partnership with Reuters and Agence France-Presse
