Yesterday (26), Israeli air force unleashed massive air strikes against Yemen, as yet another retaliation for Houthi attacks in this particular sub-conflict in the greater Middle East war.
The United Nations Secretary General has denounced the ‘escalation’ in hostilities between Yemen’s Houthi rebels and Israel.
The Israeli strikes on targets, including at the airport in Sana’a, are ‘especially alarming’, as it arose that the head of the World Health Organization was in the airport, about to board a plane.
Israel reportedly struck targets linked to the Iran-aligned Houthis, with local press saying at least six people were killed.
A spokesperson for UN Secretary General, António Guterres, said in a statement, as reported by The Guardian:
“’The secretary general condemns the escalation between Yemen and Israel. Israeli airstrikes today on Sana’a international airport, the Red Sea ports and power stations in Yemen are especially alarming. […] Today’s airstrikes follow around a year of escalatory actions by the Houthis in the Red Sea and the region that threaten civilians, regional stability and freedom of maritime navigation’.
The head of the World Health Organization (WHO), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said in a social media post on Thursday that he was about to board a plane at the airport when it came under aerial attack. A crew member on the plane was injured, he said, and at least two people were reported killed at the airport.
The air traffic control tower, the departure lounge – just a few meters from where we were – and the runway were damaged. We will need to wait for the damage to the airport to be repaired before we can leave. My UN and @WHO colleagues and I are safe. Our heartfelt condolences to the families whose loved ones lost their lives in the attack.”
Watch: footage showing WHO chief Tedros Ghebreyesus during Israeli strikes on Yemeni airport are going viral online:
Footage purportedly showing WHO chief Ghebreyesus during Israeli strikes circulating online pic.twitter.com/8jvcWVvVOr
— RT (@RT_com) December 27, 2024
Watch: children observe the aftermath of the Israeli air strike.
A warning was issued to Yemen, but it was ignored. Now, Yemen is facing consequences, as evident from the destruction in Sana’a. The Sana’a International Airport has been bombed, allegedly by Israel. Yemeni Houthis needs to know,he can’t win Israel pic.twitter.com/XPe8Jrs0vW
— Roman (@gentl_introvert) December 26, 2024
Tedros was in Yemen negotiating the release of UN staff detained by the Houthis.
“Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, said on Thursday afternoon that Israel’s air force attacked Houthi targets on the coastline and in Sanaa, adding: ‘We are determined to cut off this terrorist arm of Iran’s evil axis. We will persist in this until we complete the task. We are just getting started with them’, he said.”
Houthis keep firing drones and missiles towards Israel in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza.
“Later on Thursday, the Houthis said they were ready to respond quickly to the attack and meet ‘escalation with escalation’, Houthi-run Al Masirah TV reported.”
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