The Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, experienced a harrowing moment on Thursday when an airstrike targeted Sanaa International Airport in Yemen. The attack, which claimed at least two lives and injured several others, occurred just as Dr. Tedros and his colleagues were preparing to board a flight.
Dr. Tedros and his team had been in Yemen as part of a vital mission to assess the country’s health and humanitarian crisis and advocate for the release of detained United Nations (UN) staff members. As they concluded their mission, tragedy struck.
In a heartfelt post on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Dr. Tedros recounted the incident, describing how the airport came under fire mere moments before their departure.
“Our mission to negotiate the release of @UN staff detainees and to assess the health and humanitarian situation in #Yemen concluded today. As we were about to board our flight from Sana’a, about two hours ago, the airport came under aerial bombardment,” he wrote.
Our mission to negotiate the release of @UN staff detainees and to assess the health and humanitarian situation in #Yemen concluded today. We continue to call for the detainees' immediate release.
— Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (@DrTedros) December 26, 2024
As we were about to board our flight from Sana’a, about two hours ago, the airport… pic.twitter.com/riZayWHkvf
The airstrike left one crew member injured and caused significant damage to the airport infrastructure, including the air traffic control tower, the departure lounge, and the runway. Tragically, two individuals lost their lives in the attack.
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Dr. Tedros reassured the public that he and his team were safe but expressed deep sorrow for the victims, stating, “Our heartfelt condolences to the families whose loved ones lost their lives in the attack.”
This incident underscores the increasing instability in Yemen, where years of conflict have created one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises. The UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, condemned the airstrike and called for adherence to international law.
In his statement, Guterres emphasized the need to protect civilians and humanitarian workers, saying, “Civilians and humanitarian workers must never be targeted.” He also voiced alarm over the recent escalation of violence between Yemen and Israel, which has led to devastating airstrikes in several Yemeni regions.
I regret the recent escalation between Yemen and Israel, and remain deeply concerned about the risk of further escalation in the region.
— António Guterres (@antonioguterres) December 27, 2024
Airstrikes today on Sana’a International Airport, the Red Sea ports and power stations in Yemen are especially alarming. The airstrikes…
Reports from the United Nations indicate that the strikes resulted in numerous casualties, including at least three deaths and dozens of injuries. The airstrikes targeted critical infrastructure such as Sanaa International Airport, Red Sea ports, power stations, and military sites.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed that the Israeli Air Force carried out the strikes. According to their statement, the attacks targeted Houthi military infrastructure used for operations against Israel. Sites such as the Hezyaz and Ras Kanatib power stations and ports along Yemen’s western coast were also hit.
This escalation follows increased tensions between Israel and the Iran-backed Houthi movement, which has intensified its military activities in the region.