Israeli airstrikes targeted Yemen’s Sanaa International Airport on Thursday, injuring and killing civilians, including staff of the World Health Organization (WHO). WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus revealed on social media that he and UN colleagues were at the airport when it came under attack, stating, “One of our plane’s crew members was injured,” and confirming that two people lost their lives in the strike.
The Houthi-controlled media reported that the airstrikes also hit key infrastructure, including power stations and ports along Yemen’s western coast. The attacks left at least three people dead and over a dozen injured, sparking outrage from the Iran-backed Houthi rebel group, which called the strikes “barbaric.”
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) claimed responsibility, stating the operation targeted “military infrastructure” associated with the Houthis, who Israel accuses of acting as an Iranian proxy. The strikes reportedly hit the airport’s runway, control tower, and additional sites in the Al-Hudaydah, Salif, and Ras Kanatib ports, as well as two power stations.
In a statement, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended the strikes, asserting that Israel is committed to eliminating threats posed by the Houthis. “We will continue to cut off the terror arm of Iran’s axis of evil. This is just the beginning,” Netanyahu said.
The Houthis’ leader, Mohammed Ali al-Houthi, condemned the strikes, describing them as an “aggressive and barbaric” attack. He vowed continued resistance against what he termed “American and Israeli arrogance” until the Gaza conflict concludes.
Eyewitness accounts from Sanaa described chaotic scenes as repeated strikes hit the airport. Dr. Abbas Rajeh, a doctor treating the injured, said his hospital received multiple casualties, including one fatality and others in critical condition.
Iran joined the condemnation, calling the airstrikes a “flagrant violation of international laws” and an act of provocation in an already volatile region.
The airstrikes come amid escalating tensions between Israel and the Houthis, who have increased attacks against Israeli targets since the outbreak of the Gaza war in October 2023. Last week, a Houthi missile strike injured over a dozen people in Israel. Israel has responded with intermittent strikes, with its defense minister warning of more severe actions to “decapitate” the Houthi leadership.
The Houthis, a political and armed group backed by Iran, have controlled much of western Yemen, including the capital Sanaa, since toppling Yemen’s internationally recognized government in 2015. The latest escalation underscores the deepening complexity of regional conflicts tied to Iran’s influence in the Middle East.
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