“The air traffic control tower, departure lounge—just meters from where we stood—and the runway sustained damage. We must wait for the airport to undergo repairs before leaving,” stated WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, speaking about the impact of an Israeli airstrike on Yemen’s Sana’a airport.
According to the Houthi-controlled news agency Saba, an additional strike in Yemen’s western Hodeidah province resulted in the deaths of three more individuals.
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres condemned the increasing hostilities in Yemen, expressing his concerns over their broader regional implications. “I regret the recent escalation between Yemen and Israel, and remain deeply troubled by the risk of further intensification in the region,” Guterres wrote on X (formerly Twitter). He also criticized the year-long rise in provocations by Yemen’s Houthi forces in the Red Sea, which he said pose dangers to civilians, regional stability, and freedom of maritime navigation.
The Israeli military announced it had targeted what it called “military infrastructure” at the Sana’a airport, as well as ports and power stations, which it claimed were being used by the Houthi rebels to smuggle Iranian weapons.
“We are committed to severing this terrorist arm of Iran’s evil axis. Our operations will continue until this mission is completed,” said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in response to the strikes.
Israel’s actions have faced mounting scrutiny internationally. It has held one of the 34 rotating seats on the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Executive Board since May, following its nomination by the European region. However, in light of the recent attacks, Spain’s State Secretary for Health, Javier Padilla, told POLITICO that the country is considering challenging Israel’s WHO membership. “We are currently evaluating our options. One possibility under discussion is formally expressing our disapproval of Israel’s role on the Executive Board… but no decision has been made yet,” he said.
The ongoing conflict between Israel and the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels has intensified since the outbreak of the Gaza war. Both sides have escalated their attacks in recent months, exacerbating an already volatile situation in the region.
Additional reporting by Rory O'Neill.
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