Israel’s military said it struck several Houthi-linked targets in Yemen on Thursday, including Sana’a International Airport. The head of the World Health Organization, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said the bombing took place nearby as he was preparing to board a flight.
Tedros is in Yemen to negotiate the release of UN officials held hostage by the Houthi movement for several months and to assess the health and humanitarian situation in the country.
“The air traffic control tower, the departure lounge — just a few meters from where we were — and the runway were damaged,” Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on social media platform X.
One crew member was injured in the attack and according to Tedros, “We will need to wait for the damage to the airport to be repaired before we can leave.” UN spokeswoman Stephanie Tremblay later said the injured person was with the UN Humanitarian Air Service.
Earlier, attacks hit Yemen’s Hezyaz and Ras Kanatib power plants, as well as military infrastructure in the ports of Hodeidah, Salif and Ras Kanatib, the Israeli military claimed.
There was no immediate comment from the Houthis, who have repeatedly fired drones and missiles at Israel in what they describe as acts of solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza.
The Israeli attacks on the airport, Hodeidah and a power station were reported by Al Masirah TV, the main television news outlet run by the Houthis.
More than a year of Houthi attacks have disrupted international shipping routes, forcing companies to reroute longer and more expensive voyages that have in turn fueled fears of global inflation.
According to Israel, it has instructed its diplomatic missions in Europe to try to designate the Houthis as a terrorist organization.
The UN Security Council is to meet on Monday over the Houthi attacks on Israel, Israel’s UN ambassador Danny Danon said on Wednesday. On Saturday, the Israeli military failed to intercept a rocket from Yemen that landed in the Tel Aviv-Jaffa area, injuring 14 people.
a href=”https://tribune.com.pk/story/2518394/who-chief-unharmed-as-israeli-airstrike-hits-yemen-airport”>Source link
