A wave of Israeli air assaults hit Yemen’s main airport simply because the World Well being Group’s director-general stated he was about to board a flight there, wounding one of many United Nations aircraft’s crew, the WHO chief has stated.
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated in a submit on X that he was simply metres away from the assault on Sanaa airport on Thursday.
“As we have been about to board our flight from Sanaa … the airport got here below aerial bombardment. Considered one of our aircraft’s crew members was injured,” he stated.
“The air site visitors management tower, the departure lounge – just some metres from the place we have been – and the runway have been broken,” he stated, including that he and his colleagues have been protected.
There was no rapid remark from Israel on the incident.
The Houthi-controlled Saba information company stated that three individuals have been killed within the strikes on the airport and one other three have been killed after Israel hit the important thing port metropolis of Hodeidah, whereas 40 others have been wounded in Israeli assaults.
The Israeli army stated it attacked infrastructure utilized by Yemen’s Houthis on the worldwide airport within the capital, Sanaa, in addition to energy stations and ports, alleging they have been used to smuggle in Iranian weapons and for the entry of senior Iranian officers.
Houthis have repeatedly fired drones and missiles in direction of Israel in what they describe as acts of solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza.
Al Jazeera’s Gabriel Elizondo, reporting from UN headquarters in New York, stated Ghebreyesus and his employees have been evacuated out to security shortly after the assault on the airport.
“The UN tells us all of their employees are accounted for. However make no mistake about it, this was a really shut name,” Elizondo stated.
UN spokesperson Stephanie Tremblay informed reporters that the delegation had simply concluded discussions on the humanitarian situation in Yemen and have been negotiating the discharge of detained UN employees members.
“The secretary-general emphasises that worldwide regulation, together with humanitarian regulation as relevant, have to be revered always, and he appeals to all to respect and shield civilians and civilian infrastructure,” she stated.
“Humanitarian reduction personnel additionally should not be focused and have to be revered and guarded always.”
Houthis promise to hit again
On Thursday, the Houthis stated they have been prepared to reply rapidly to the assault and meet “escalation with escalation”, Houthi-run Al Masirah TV reported.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated in an interview with Channel 14 that Israel was solely starting its marketing campaign in opposition to the Houthis. “We’re simply getting began with them,” he stated.
The prime minister has been strengthened at dwelling by the Israeli army’s marketing campaign in opposition to Iran-backed Hezbollah forces in southern Lebanon and by its destruction of a lot of the Syrian military’s strategic weapons.
Raiman al-Hamdani, a Yemeni researcher on the ARK worldwide growth group, stated assaults by Israel on the airport marked a major escalation.
Al-Hamdani additionally stated the Houthis have been taking part in with hearth in “doubling-down” on their pledge to proceed assaults on Israel and the nation didn’t have the capability to cope with the disaster of a serious battle involving Israel.
“I believe there is no such thing as a going again from what we’ve seen as we speak as a result of the Houthis are fairly decided to proceed putting Israel,” he stated.
Final week, Israeli jets bombed Sanaa and Hodeidah, killing 9 individuals. The US army additionally has targeted the Houthis in Yemen in latest days.
Israel’s newest wave of strikes in Yemen follows a number of days of Houthi launches setting off air raid sirens in Israel. The Houthis have additionally been concentrating on delivery within the Crimson Sea hall, saying it’s in assist of Palestinians in Gaza.
Israel’s struggle in Gaza has killed greater than 45,000 Palestinians, greater than half of them kids and ladies, in accordance with Gaza’s Ministry of Well being.
