JERUSALEM – On Thursday, a fresh wave of Israeli airstrikes targeted the capital of Yemen held by Houthi rebels, as well as several ports. This assault coincided with remarks from the director-general of the World Health Organization, who stated the attacks were happening nearby while he was preparing to board a flight in Sanaa. A crew member was reported injured during the incident.
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus shared on the social media platform X that key areas of the airport were damaged, including the air traffic control tower, the departure lounge, and the runway, which were just a short distance from where he and his UN colleagues were situated. He reassured that they were safe but mentioned that they would need to wait for repairs to be completed before they could depart. The UN’s spokesperson, Stephanie Tremblay, later confirmed that the injured individual was affiliated with the UN Humanitarian Air Service.
The Israeli military stated it was not aware of the presence of the WHO chief or his delegation at the Yemeni location during the strikes. These military actions were prompted by a series of Houthi missile launches that triggered alarms in Israel over previous days. In its announcement, the Israeli defense forces claimed to have struck infrastructure connected to the Iran-backed Houthis at the Sanaa airport as well as ports in Hodeida, Al-Salif, and Ras Qantib, alleging that these sites were used for smuggling Iranian arms and enabling the entry of senior Iranian officials.
Israel’s military emphasized its extensive capabilities to launch strikes from significant distances, ensuring precision and consistency in their operations. These attacks took place over 1,000 miles from Jerusalem and were executed shortly after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned that the Houthis would face consequences akin to those experienced by other Iranian proxies, including Hamas and Hezbollah.
The Houthi-operated channel al-Masirah reported numerous deaths resulting from the strikes and broadcast footage of destruction, including shattered windows, collapsed ceilings, and blood-stained scenes. Iran’s foreign ministry condemned the assaults, while the U.S. military had also been targeting the Houthis in recent days. The United Nations highlighted that the ports under attack are crucial for delivering humanitarian aid to Yemen, which has suffered from civil war since 2014 and is considered the poorest Arab nation.
Recent military actions have led to injuries in Israel as well; on the preceding weekend, a Houthi missile struck a playground in Tel Aviv, injuring 16 people. The Israeli military has also intercepted additional missiles and drones targeting its territory. A week prior, airstrikes on Sanaa and Hodeida resulted in casualties and were proclaimed retaliatory measures in response to Houthi provocations. The Houthis, in turn, have been targeting vessels in the Red Sea corridor, claiming it was in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza.
On Monday, the U.N. Security Council is scheduled to convene urgently at Israel’s request to discuss condemning the Houthi attacks and Iran’s role in supplying arms to the group.
In another development, five Palestinian journalists tragically lost their lives due to an Israeli strike outside Al-Awda Hospital in Gaza, as reported by the region’s Health Ministry. The Israeli military asserted that the journalists were actually militants masquerading as reporters.
The strike targeted a vehicle in the crowded Nuseirat refugee camp. Those killed were associated with Al-Quds Today, a media outlet linked to the Islamic Jihad militant organization, known for being a more radical companion of Hamas that participated in the aggressive actions on October 7, 2023, which sparked ongoing conflict. The Israeli military identified four of the deceased as combat propagandists, backing its claims with intelligence gathered in Gaza.
Footage obtained showed the charred remains of a van with recognizable press markings, while grieving individuals attended the funeral. The Committee to Protect Journalists noted that over 130 Palestinian journalists have lost their lives since the conflict’s commencement, while foreign journalists have been largely barred from entering Gaza unless traveling with military escorts.
Additionally, Israel has prohibited the pan-Arab network Al Jazeera from operating, accusing six of its reporters in Gaza of being involved in militant activities. The network denied these allegations, arguing that Israel aims to suppress coverage of its military actions, which have drawn attention to significant civilian casualties.
Separately, the Israeli military reported the loss of a 35-year-old reserve soldier during combat in central Gaza. This brings the total number of Israeli soldiers killed in the ongoing fighting to 389. The conflict ignited following an incursion led by Hamas militants, resulting in about 1,200 fatalities, largely among civilians, in addition to around 250 kidnappings. Currently, approximately 100 hostages are believed to be held within Gaza.
Israel’s aggressive military strategies have resulted in widespread devastation and food scarcity, displacing around 90% of the 2.3 million population. Many have sought shelter in overcrowded camps along the coast, facing severe conditions without adequate protection as winter sets in.
Thursday also saw the mourning of eight Palestinians who died due to military actions in Tulkarem, a city in the occupied West Bank. The Israeli military alleged that they responded with gunfire because they were attacked by militants, acknowledging that innocent civilians were also harmed during the engagement.
