The Israeli military said it struck several Houthi-linked targets in Yemen on Thursday, including Sanaa International Airport. World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the bombing happened nearby as he was preparing to board a flight.
Tedros is in Yemen to negotiate the release of UN personnel held hostage by the Houthi movement for several months, and to assess the health and humanitarian situation in the country.
“The air traffic control tower, the departure lounge – just a few meters from where we were – and the runway were damaged,” Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on social media platform .
A crew member was injured in the attack and, according to Tedros, “we will have to wait until the damage to the airport is repaired before we can leave.” U.N. spokeswoman Stéphanie Tremblay later said the injured person was part of the U.N. humanitarian air service.
Previously, attacks had hit the Yemeni power plants of Hezyaz and Ras Kanatib as well as military infrastructure at the ports of Hodeidah, Salif and Ras Kanatib, the Israeli army said.
There was no immediate comment from the Houthis, who have repeatedly fired drones and missiles toward Israel in what they describe as acts of solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza.
The Israeli attacks on the airport, Hodeidah and on a power plant were reported by Al Masirah TV, the main Houthi-run television news channel.
More than a year of Houthi attacks have disrupted international shipping routes, forcing businesses to shift to longer, more expensive journeys, fueling fears about global inflation.
According to Israel, it has instructed its diplomatic missions in Europe to try to have the Houthis designated as a terrorist organization.
The UN Security Council is due to meet on Monday over Houthi attacks on Israel, Israeli Ambassador to the UN Danny Danon said on Wednesday. On Saturday, the Israeli army failed to intercept a missile coming from Yemen which fell in the Tel Aviv-Jaffa region, injuring 14 people.
