WHO chief says he was at Yemen airport when it was hit by Israeli air strikes which killed two

The head of the World Health Organisation (WHO) has said he was at Yemen’s Sanaa airport when it was hit by Israeli air strikes.

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said he was about to board a flight from Sanaa with UN and WHO staff when “the airport came under aerial bombardment”.

“One of our plane’s crew members was injured,” he added. “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.”

Mr Ghebreyesus said he and his colleagues were safe and sent “our heartfelt condolences” to the relatives of those who died.

It comes as Israel’s military said it had hit multiple targets linked to the Iran-aligned Houthi movement in Yemen on Thursday – including Sanaa International Airport and three ports along the western coast.

Attacks hit Yemen’s Hezyaz and Ras Kanatib power stations as well as military infrastructure in the ports of Hodeidah, Salif and Ras Kanatib, Israel’s military added.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed the strikes against the Houthis, and said: “We are determined to cut off this terrorist arm of Iran’s evil axis.

“We will persist in this until we complete the task.”

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