WHO Director General And UN Officials Caught In Israeli Air Strike While In Yemen Sanaa Airport
Yesterday, Israeli airstrikes targeted Yemen’s Sanaa International Airport while the World Health Organization (WHO) Director General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and UN staff were present. Dr. Tedros and the UN staff, were confirmed to be unharmed.
The strikes reportedly killed six people and injured over 30. The control tower, departure longue and runway sustained damage leaving these high-ranking officials stranded.
Dr. Tedros posted on X yesterday stating that he was in Yemen to negotiate the release of detained UN staff and assess the health and humanitarian situation.
Un Secretary-General António Guterres also said on X and described the strikes as “especially alarming” and expressed concern over the risk of escalating violence in the region.
Why Yemen? Yamen has become part of this collateral damage between the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran. The Houthis who are backed by Iran, have been attacking Israel since the Gaza war was escalated in October of last year.
Last Week a Houthi missile targeted Tel Aviv, damaging a school in Ramat Gan but causing no injuries.
Israel responded within hours, carrying out strikes on Houthi-controlled sites, including ports, power stations, and military infrastructure in Sanaa.
Houthi led media reported multiple fatalities at various sites, while Israel described the targets as military installations. Questions remain about the safety of the civilians and humanitarian personnel operating in conflict zones, particularly after the strikes occurred so close to the Un delegation.
The timing and location of the strikes do raise uncomfortable questions.
Was the presence of these officials at Sanaa Airport an oversight or just a coincidence?
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