WHO chief says he’s safe after Israel strikes Yemen capital’s airport

GENEVA — The head of the World Health Organization, who was at the Sanaa airport in Yemen amid an Israeli bombardment on Thursday, said there was damage to infrastructure but he remained safe.

"One of our plane's crew members was injured. At least two people were reported killed at the airport," Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus posted on X.

Other UN staff were also safe but their departure was delayed until repairs could be made, he added.

Our mission to negotiate the release of @UN staff detainees and to assess the health and humanitarian situation in #Yemen concluded today. We continue to call for the detainees' immediate release.

As we were about to board our flight from Sana’a, about two hours ago, the airport… pic.twitter.com/riZayWHkvf

— Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (@DrTedros) December 26, 2024

Tedros was in Yemen as part of a mission to seek the release of detained UN staff and assess the health and humanitarian situations in the war-torn country.

He said the mission "concluded today," and "we continue to call for the detainees' immediate release."

While about to board their flight, he said "the airport came under aerial bombardment."

"The air traffic control tower, the departure lounge—just a few meters from where we were—and the runway were damaged."

The Israeli air strikes came a day after the latest attacks on Israel by Iran-backed Huthi rebels.

The rebel-held capital's airport was struck by "more than six" attacks with raids also targeting the adjacent Al-Dailami air base, a witness told AFP. — Agence France-Presse