World Health Organisation (WHO) chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus confirmed he was unharmed after an Israeli bombardment targeted Sanaa Airport in Yemen on Thursday. Despite infrastructure damage, including to the air traffic control tower, departure lounge, and runway, Tedros reported that he was safe.
“One of our plane’s crew members was injured. At least two people were reported killed at the airport,” Tedros shared on X (formerly Twitter). He added that other UN staff members were also safe, although their departure was delayed as repairs were made.
Tedros was in Yemen as part of a mission to advocate for the release of detained UN staff and assess the ongoing health and humanitarian crisis in the war-torn country. The mission concluded on Thursday, with Tedros emphasising the continued call for the immediate release of the detainees.
He described the moment of the attack, saying that the airport came under aerial bombardment just as they were about to board.
The Israeli strikes on Sanaa airport occurred a day after a drone attack on Israel by the Huthi rebels, in retaliation for previous Israeli airstrikes. Witnesses reported that the Israeli strikes targeted both the airport and the adjacent Al-Dailami airbase, with more than six raids hitting the area.
