WHO chief narrowly escapes attack on Yemen airport

Last Updated on December 28, 2024 7:11 am

At least two people have been killed in an Israeli bomb attack at the airport in Yemen’s capital, Sanaa. However, World Health Organization (WHO) chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus narrowly escaped the attack. A crew member of the plane carrying him was injured.

After the Israeli attack, the WHO chief himself posted on social media, saying, “A crew member of our plane was injured in the Israeli attack. At least two people were killed at the airport. Other UN staff stationed at the airport are also safe. However, their journey has been delayed.”

Describing the attack, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said, “Our work here is over. We were about to board the plane from the airport when the attack occurred. It damaged the airport’s air traffic control tower, runway and several other infrastructures.

On Thursday, the WHO chief went to the country to release the UN officials who are being held captive in Yemen. Another objective was to assess the health and humanitarian situation in the war-torn country.

An eyewitness to the attack said that more than six attacks were carried out on the airport. The nearby Al-Dailami air base was also hit.

Yemen’s capital Sanaa is currently under the control of the Houthis. The Israeli forces retaliated a day after Yemen’s Houthi rebels launched an attack on Israel.