In brief
Dr. Tedros described the chaos and danger faced by him and his UN colleagues while they were at the Sanaa airport, highlighting the broader implications of the conflict in Yemen and Israel's military actions.
Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the World Health Organization's Director-General, shared a chilling account of escaping death during an Israeli airstrike at an airport in Yemen. Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today programme, he recounted the moment of the attack that claimed at least six lives. As he and his team departed Sanaa following discussions aimed at releasing UN detainees and assessing the humanitarian crisis, chaos erupted when the airport was struck."The atmosphere was completely chaotic, with people running everywhere, and we were completely vulnerable, having no shelter," he stated, recalling how close they came to disaster. “It’s a matter of luck, or else a slight deviation from the missile’s path could have meant tragedy for us,” he added, reflecting on his colleagues' disbelief at their narrow escape.The Israeli military confirmed the operation, characterizing it as targeted strikes on militant positions held by Iran-backed Houthi forces. Dr. Tedros emphasized that his presence at the airport was public knowledge but maintained that every civilian life is invaluable and should be protected.The WHO chief condemned the airstrike on the civilian airport, which, according to him, should not have been a military target. Meanwhile, Israel justified the attack, alleging the airport was being used by the Houthis for smuggling arms and hosting Iranian officials.In retaliation, the Houthis declared they would intensify strikes against Israel amidst ongoing conflicts, illustrating the dangerous escalation of tensions in the region. Following the airstrike, reports emerged that three individuals were killed at the airport while claims of further casualties resulted from separate attacks on strategic locations such as power stations. With the conflict escalating since the outbreak of the war between Hamas and Israel in October, where Israel faced significant losses from unanticipated attacks, the situation remains volatile, with both sides continuing to engage in retaliatory actions across regional borders.
