By Mohammed Sameai
SANAA, Yemen (AA) - Yemen's Houthi group said Israeli airstrikes targeting Sanaa International Airport on Thursday evening resulted in the deaths of two airport employees and injuries to the assistant of a UN plane’s captain.
The plane had landed to transport World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Houthi Foreign Minister Jamal Amer condemned on X the timing of the Israeli airstrike on the airport.
He described the attack as “targeting and disregarding the UN,” as it coincided with preparations for Tedros and UN resident coordinator Julian Harnis to depart on a UN flight.
Israeli warplanes launched a new wave of airstrikes in Yemen targeting several strategic sites, including Sanaa airport and the port of Al-Hudaydah in western Yemen, public broadcaster KAN said.
Israel’s Channel 12 said power stations were targeted in the attacks, without providing further details.
According to Israeli Channel 13, dozens of Israeli fighter jets took part in the attacks, which coincided with a televised speech by Houthi leader Abdel-Malik al-Houthi.
KAN said the US was notified before the launch of the attacks.
The Houthis have targeted Israel, as well as Israeli-linked shipping and naval vessels in the Red Sea, in solidarity with the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip, where Israel has killed more than 45,000 people since the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas attacks.
The US and UK have also been bombing Houthi targets in Yemen.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday said Houthi forces in Yemen would face consequences.
*Writing by Mohammad Sio