On the 26th local time, Israel launched a new round of airstrikes on Yemen, targeting the capital Sanaa International Airport and multiple ports controlled by the Houthi forces. WHO Director-General Tedros confirmed he was at the airport and narrowly escaped being hit, with the bombing happening just meters away from him, injuring a crew member.
This round of attacks by Israel against the Houthi forces primarily targeted Sanaa's airport and power stations, as well as the power station and port in Hodeidah, resulting in at least 4 deaths and 16 injuries.
In a statement, Israel claimed that the Houthi forces were using these facilities to transport weapons from Iran and allow senior Iranian officials into Yemen. They accused the Houthis of being Iranian-backed in undermining regional order and global navigation freedom, stating that Israel would continue to take strong actions to protect Israeli sovereignty and the safety of its people.
Tedros issued a statement on social media that day, confirming that he and his team were at Sanaa International Airport and preparing to board the plane when the airport was suddenly bombed. The waiting room and runway just a few meters away from them were damaged, and a crew member was injured, with at least two people killed within the airport area.
Tedros noted that he and WHO and UN staff present are currently safe but will have to wait for repairs to the damaged airport facilities before they can leave.
Houthi leader Abdul stated that Israel's attack on Yemeni civilian facilities will not succeed in its deterrence.
Recently, the Houthi forces have been continuously launching drones and ballistic missiles, striking Israeli infrastructure and military bases. Last Saturday, the Israeli military failed to intercept a missile from Yemen, which fell in the Jaffa area, injuring 14 people.