Israeli warplanes targeted areas in Yemen on Thursday, including the international airport in the capital Sana’a, in response to attacks by the Iran-backed Houthi movement.
The Houthi-controlled Ministry of Health said at least six people died and 42 were injured.
“Warplanes carried out intelligence-based strikes on areas targeted by the Houthi terrorist regime on the west coast and central Yemen,” the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said in a statement.
The IDF said another target was Houthi military infrastructure at Sana’a airport. Several ports, including Hodeidah, and two local power plants, were also affected.
Israel has accused the Houthi militia of using civilian infrastructure for military purposes, such as smuggling weapons from Iran.
The Houthis said the airport was hit along with the aa power plant and the Ras Isa oil port, in the western province of Hodeidah.
Anis Al Asbahi, a spokesman for the Houthi-controlled Ministry of Health, told dpa that bombings at Sana’a airport killed three and wounded 30 others, while strikes at the port of Ras Issa killed one person and wounded 12 others.
“This number is just the beginning,” he added.
An official at the airport told dpa that the strikes were aimed at the rest area, the tower that controls the facility and large sections of the road.
The source, who did not wish to be named, said the bombing occurred five minutes before the Yemeni national airline flight from Amman, Jordan, landed.
The World Health Organization (WHO) team, including its director general, faced the Israeli attack on Sana’a airport.
“As we were about to board our flight from Sana’a, almost two hours ago, the airport was bombed, wrote WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on X.
“One of our flight crew was injured. At least two people were reported dead at the airport. The air traffic control tower, the rest area – a few meters from where we were – and the runway were damaged.”
The UN and WHO team members were unharmed and safe, he said. “We deeply sympathize with the families who lost their lives in this incident,” Tedros wrote.
The strikes coincided with a televised speech by military leader Abdel-Malek al-Houthi.
The military spokesman, Mohammed Abdel-Salam, responded with contempt.
“If the enemy of Zion [Israel] thinking that its crimes will stop Yemen from supporting Gaza, is delusional. Yemen will not abandon its religious and humanitarian goals,” said Abdel-Salam on social media platform X.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres called for a reduction in a statement issued on Thursday night.
“Today’s Israeli airstrikes on Sana’a International Airport, Red Sea ports and power stations in Yemen are very alarming,” Guterres said, according to a spokesman.
“The Secretary-General condemns the escalation between Yemen and Israel,” the statement said.
The Israeli airstrikes followed a year of “dangerous actions” by the Houthis in the Red Sea and the region that “threaten civilians, regional stability and freedom of navigation,” Guterres said. He urged all agencies to protect citizens and people’s infrastructure.
After the latest rocket attack by the Houthis in the Tel Aviv area, the Israeli Air Force chief announced a strong offensive against the Islamic militants in Yemen, an impoverished, war-torn country.
The Houthis are allied with Israel’s archenemy Iran, as are Hamas in the Gaza Strip and the Lebanese militia Hezbollah.
Since the war in Gaza began more than a year ago, Yemen’s Houthis have targeted Israel and merchant ships in the Red Sea, claiming these actions are aligned with Gaza.
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