The Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, narrowly escaped an airstrike at Sanaa International Airport in Yemen on Thursday. The attack, reportedly carried out by Israeli forces targeting Iran-aligned Houthi militants, left three dead and 40 injured, according to Houthi-controlled media.
Speaking from Jordan on Friday, Tedros recounted the harrowing experience. “I was not sure I could survive. One blast was just a few meters away from where we were seated near the departure lounge,” he said. The airport was hit by a series of explosions, leaving the building in chaos as people scrambled for safety.
Tedros and his colleagues were trapped for over an hour amid the destruction. “There was no shelter, nothing to protect us. We were completely exposed,” he said, describing the sight of missile fragments scattered around the area.
The strikes followed repeated Houthi drone and missile attacks on Israel, which the group claimed were acts of solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded by declaring that Israel was “just getting started” with the Houthis.
Tedros had traveled to Yemen over Christmas to negotiate the release of UN staff and others detained in the region. Despite the risks, he emphasized the urgency of the mission. “The talks went well, and there is hope for the release of 16 UN staff, diplomatic employees, and NGO workers,” he said.
The WHO chief expressed surprise that a civilian airport was targeted and criticized the lack of warning before the strike. “A civilian airport should be protected, whether I am there or not,” he said, adding that his itinerary had been publicly available.
Reflecting on the incident, Tedros highlighted the broader suffering in conflict zones. “This allowed me to feel the way many experience war every day,” he said, urging global leaders to address escalating conflicts. “I’ve never seen the world in such a dangerous state.”
The injured UN colleague evacuated with Tedros is reportedly in stable condition.
