Israel

WHO Chief at Yemen Airport During Israeli Strikes

DEC 27 2024·Updated DEC 28 2024

Story

Above: Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization, speaks at the pledge session of the 2024 World Health Summit on Oct. 14, 2024 in Berlin, Germany. Image credit: Sean Gallup/Staff/Getty Images News via Getty Images

The Facts

Israeli forces conducted airstrikes on multiple targets in Yemen on Thursday, including Sanaa International Airport, where World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and other UN staff were present while preparing to board a flight.
BBC News
Politico
The strikes damaged the airport's air traffic control tower, departure lounge, and runway, killing at least six people and injuring 40 others across various locations, according to Houthi media.
guardian
Israel's military targeted what it described as military infrastructure at Sanaa airport, Hezyaz and Ras Kanatib power stations, and ports in Hodeidah, Salif and Ras Kanatib.
Sky News
The WHO chief was in Yemen to negotiate the release of detained UN staff and assess the humanitarian situation when the attack occurred. A crew member from Tedros' plane was reportedly injured.
Al Jazeera
Guardian
The attacks followed recent Houthi missile launches toward Israel, including one over the weekend that reportedly wounded 16 people in Tel Aviv.
Bloomberg.com
CBS News
Following the incident, the Houthis claimed to have launched retaliatory strikes on Israel's Ben Gurion airport and Tel Aviv on Friday, reporting "casualties and the cessation of navigation at the airport." Israel, however, claimed to have intercepted the missile before it reached the airport, with no reports of drones over Tel Aviv.
Timesofisrael
Guardian
Middle East Eye

Sources Split

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RIGHT

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ESTAB

The Spin

Narrative A

The strikes were necessary military actions targeting terrorist infrastructure used for smuggling Iranian weapons and threatening Israeli security. The Houthis have been conducting attacks on Israeli territory and disrupting maritime navigation in the Red Sea, requiring a strong response to protect civilian lives and regional stability.

Timesofisrael

Narrative B

The Israeli attacks represent an aggressive escalation that targeted civilian infrastructure, endangered UN humanitarian personnel, and resulted in civilian casualties. The strikes threaten humanitarian operations in Yemen and risk further destabilizing an already fragile region.

Al Jazeera