Israel attacked Sanaa Airport in Yemen on Thursday. The port and airport were targeted in the attack. WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus was also present when Israel attacked the airport. The WHO chief narrowly escaped in this attack. In fact, Houthi rebels have held UN employees hostage for the last several months. The WHO chief had reached Yemen to negotiate for the release of these employees.

WHO Chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus

Giving information about the attack on the airport, WHO Chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus wrote on the social media platform X, "Our mission to negotiate the release of UN staff and assess the health and humanitarian situation in Yemen is completed today. We will continue to demand the immediate release of the detainees. About two hours before we were about to board our flight from Sanaa, the airport was bombed. A crew member of our plane was injured."

WHO colleagues and I are safe

He further wrote, “At least two people are reported to have been killed at the airport. The air traffic control tower, the departure lounge – just a few metres from where we were – and the runway were damaged. We will have to wait until the damage to the airport is repaired before we can leave. My UN and WHO colleagues and I are safe. We offer our heartfelt condolences to the families whose loved ones lost their lives in the attack.”