In brief
The head of the World Health Organization narrowly escaped harm when an Israeli airstrike targeted Yemen's airport, highlighting the dangers faced by civilians amidst the escalating conflict involving Houthi rebels and Israeli military actions.
Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the Director General of the World Health Organization (WHO), described a chilling brush with death during an Israeli airstrike on a Yemeni airport, where he, alongside his UN colleagues, was present. During a BBC Radio 4 interview, Dr. Tedros shared details of the attack, which notably resulted in the loss of at least six lives. The incident occurred on Thursday as he and other UN officials were departing from Sanaa after negotiations concerning the release of detained UN personnel and assessments related to the humanitarian crisis in Yemen.Following the attack, which the Israel Defense Forces attributed to "intelligence-based strikes on military targets" associated with Iran-backed Houthi rebels, Dr. Tedros recounted the extreme panic that ensued. “People were in disarray and running everywhere,” he said, explaining that there were no shelters available, leaving them "completely exposed" during the strike. He acknowledged the randomness of survival, reflecting on how a slight deviation in the missile's trajectory might have spelled disaster for him and his colleagues.Although his visit was publicly known, Dr. Tedros emphasized the sanctity of civilian lives, stating, "It doesn't matter whether I'm there or not. Any civilian life is life—my life is not better than another human being." He criticized the Israeli forces for targeting a civilian infrastructure, emphasizing that airports are not legitimate military targets.The Israeli military claimed that the airport was misused by the Houthi rebels for military purposes, including smuggling Iranian weaponry and accommodating senior officials. The Houthi-controlled Saba news agency reported casualties, alleging three deaths at the airport and additional fatalities and injuries due to strikes on power plants and other facilities.As the conflict evolves, the Houthi group also vowed to continue their offensive against Israel until attacks cease in the Gaza Strip. Since the onset of hostilities in October 2023, initiated by a surprise Israeli assault leading to significant Israeli casualties, the Houthis have engaged in retaliatory actions against Israeli positions. In the latest exchanges, they reported launching a strike on Israel's Nevatim airbase, but the Israeli forces successfully intercepted the incoming missile before it entered their airspace.
