Chaos and devastation struck Yemen’s Sanaa International Airport on Thursday when Israeli airstrikes targeted the facility, killing at least three people and injuring dozens more. Among those caught in the attack was the World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, who narrowly escaped harm as he prepared to board a flight. The strikes have drawn international condemnation and heightened fears of a deepening regional crisis.
The attack damaged key airport infrastructure, including the air traffic control tower, departure lounge, and runway, leaving them unusable for the foreseeable future. In a statement on X (formerly Twitter), Tedros recounted the harrowing experience, emphasizing how close he and his team were to the impact zone. “The air traffic control tower, the departure lounge — just a few meters from where we were — and the runway were damaged,” he wrote. The WHO chief’s team evacuated safely to Sanaa, but a United Nations Humanitarian Air Service crew member was among the injured and is now being treated in a local hospital.
The United Nations reported the incident with alarm, highlighting the significant human toll of the strike. U.N. associate spokesperson Stephanie Tremblay confirmed the death toll and injuries, emphasizing the critical damage to the airport. She added that an assessment of the facility will take place Friday to determine if Tedros and his team can safely leave Yemen.
The strikes come amid an intensifying conflict between Israel and Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels, who have increasingly targeted Israel with missile and drone attacks. Israel’s military stated it struck Sanaa International Airport and other key infrastructure, including power stations and Red Sea ports, claiming these sites were being used by the Houthis to smuggle Iranian weapons and host senior Iranian officials. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) said they were unaware of the WHO delegation’s presence at the airport.
Houthi-controlled media aired scenes of destruction, showing shattered windows, collapsed ceilings, and blood-stained floors. Reports from al-Masirah, a Houthi-run satellite channel, indicated multiple deaths and injuries. Meanwhile, Iran’s foreign ministry condemned the strikes, framing them as an escalation of aggression in the region. The U.S. military, which has targeted Houthi positions in recent days, did not comment on the Israeli strikes.
Thursday’s attack has intensified international concern about the implications for Yemen, a country already mired in a decade-long civil war that has left millions on the brink of starvation. The airport and targeted Red Sea ports are critical entry points for humanitarian aid. The U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the attack as “especially alarming” and called for an immediate halt to military actions. He emphasized the importance of respecting civilian infrastructure under international law and urged all parties to exercise maximum restraint.
The strike follows a series of Houthi missile and drone launches that have recently targeted Israeli cities. Over the weekend, a Houthi missile hit a playground in Tel Aviv, injuring 16 people, while other attacks were intercepted by Israeli air defenses. In retaliation, Israel has carried out airstrikes on Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen, including Sanaa and the port city of Hodeida, killing nine people last week. The Houthis have also escalated attacks on shipping routes in the Red Sea, citing solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza.
Eyewitness footage from Thursday’s attack showed panic and chaos as travelers fled the airport. One survivor, who declined to be named, described the scene as a nightmare. “People were screaming, crying, and running in all directions,” they said. The fear and confusion mirrored the broader devastation wrought by years of conflict in Yemen, where civilians often bear the brunt of violence.
The attack has reignited concerns over the legality and proportionality of Israel’s military actions. Human rights organizations have criticized the strikes for targeting civilian infrastructure, even if suspected of dual use. They argue that such actions violate international law and exacerbate an already dire humanitarian situation. Yemen, the poorest Arab nation, depends heavily on its ports and airports for the delivery of vital aid, making the destruction of these facilities a severe blow to its struggling population.
As the conflict intensifies, the international community has called for diplomatic solutions to prevent further escalation. The U.N. Security Council is set to hold an emergency meeting on Monday at Israel’s request to address Houthi attacks and Iran’s alleged role in arming the rebels. However, with tensions running high and no immediate signs of a ceasefire, the path to peace remains uncertain.
This latest development underscores the far-reaching implications of the Israel-Hamas war, which began in Gaza but has now expanded to include multiple regional players.
The Houthis have framed their attacks on Israel as an act of solidarity with Palestinians, while Israel’s strikes on Yemen highlight the conflict’s widening geographical scope. The Red Sea, a vital corridor for global shipping, has also become a flashpoint, with increased risks to international trade and security.
The global ramifications of the conflict are undeniable, with Thursday’s strike serving as a stark reminder of the indiscriminate nature of war. The presence of high-profile figures like the WHO chief at the site of the attack has drawn international attention to the human cost of the escalating violence. Tedros himself acknowledged this in his X post, urging all parties to prioritize peace and humanitarian aid over further conflict.
For Yemen, already ravaged by years of war, the attack represents yet another blow to its fragile state. The destruction of critical infrastructure like Sanaa International Airport threatens to deepen the humanitarian crisis, leaving millions of Yemenis without access to essential goods and services.
The international community faces mounting pressure to intervene and broker peace before the situation spirals further out of control.
