The attack targeted Sanaa International Airport, a Red Sea port and a power plant, and also wounded a UN humanitarian aircrew member at the airport.
A high-level UN delegation led by World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus was at the airport when the strike broke out, following discussions on the humanitarian crisis in Yemen and the release of detained UN personnel.
“Today’s airstrikes follow an escalation of Houthi actions in the Red Sea and the region that threaten civilians, regional stability and freedom of navigation at sea,” U.N. spokeswoman Stephanie Tremblay said in a statement.
She added that Secretary-General Antonio Guterres remains deeply concerned about the risk of further escalation of the situation and urged all parties to cease military action and exercise restraint.
“He also warned that airstrikes on Red Sea ports and Sanaa airport pose a serious risk to humanitarian work at a time when millions of people are in need of life-saving assistance,” Mr. Tremblay said.
We respect international law
Prime Minister Guterres also emphasized that international law, including humanitarian law where applicable, must always be respected, and appealed to everyone to respect and protect civilians and civilian infrastructure.
“Humanitarian aid workers should not be targeted and should be respected and protected at all times,” the statement said.
It added that further escalation in the region continues to undermine mediation efforts led by the Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Yemen, Hans Grundberg, to find a negotiated political solution to the conflict in Yemen.
Direct account from the head of WHO
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, who was at Sanaa Airport at the time of the airstrike, explained the situation on social media.
“When we tried to board our flight in Sana’a, the airport was bombed from the air,” he wrote.
The attack damaged the air traffic control tower and departure lounge just meters from where Tedros and his team were standing.
“We will have to wait for the damage to the airport to be repaired before we leave. “I and my UN and WHO colleagues are safe,” he said, expressing condolences to the families who lost loved ones in the attack.
