Israel strikes Houthi targets in Yemen, kills 6

JERUSALEM (Reuters) – Israel struck several targets linked to the Iran-aligned Houthi movement in Yemen, including Sanaa International Airport, killing at least six people, Houthi media reported on Thursday.

The head of the World Health Organization, Theodore Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said he was about to board a plane when he was attacked at the airport. One crew member on the plane was injured, he said.

In addition to hitting the airport, the Israeli military said it also hit military installations in the ports of Hodeidah, Salif and Ras Qanatib on Yemen’s west coast. It also attacked the country’s Heziaz and Ras Kanatib power stations.

The Houthi-controlled Sabah news agency reported that 3 people were killed in the attack on the airport, 3 people were killed in Hudeidah and 40 others were injured.

Houthi-run Al Masirah TV reported later on Thursday that it would respond immediately to the attack and “we are ready to meet escalation with escalation”.

The Houthis have repeatedly fired drones and missiles into Israel in what they say is an act of solidarity with the Palestinians in Gaza.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in an interview with Channel 14 that Israel is only at the beginning of its campaign against the Houthis. “We are starting with them now,” he said.

The prime minister has been strengthened at home by the Israeli military’s campaign against Iran-backed Hezbollah in southern Lebanon and the destruction of most of the Syrian army’s strategic equipment.

Tedros said he was to negotiate the release of UN staff imprisoned in Yemen and assess the humanitarian situation.

When we were about to board our flight from Sana’a… the airport was bombed in the air. One of the crew on our plane was injured.

“The air traffic control tower, the departure lounge – just a few meters from where we are – and the runway were damaged,” he said, adding that he and his colleagues were safe.

There was no comment from Israel on the matter.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Thursday described the Israeli airstrikes as “deplorable” after “the worst action in a year, particularly by the Houthis,” a UN spokesman said.

Guterres is concerned about the risk of further escalation and called on all parties concerned to cease military actions and take full control, the spokesman added, adding: “He also warned that airstrikes on the Red Sea ports and Sanaa airport pose a serious humanitarian risk.” Actions as millions of people need life-saving help.

Houthi’s transport minister told Sabah that both the airport and Hodeida port would resume normal operations from Friday.

More than a year of Houthi attacks have disrupted international shipping routes, forcing companies to take longer and more expensive voyages, raising concerns about global inflation.

The UN Security Council is set to meet on Monday to discuss the Houthi attack on Israel, Israel’s UN Ambassador Danny Danon said on Wednesday.

On Saturday, the Israeli army shot down a missile fired from Yemen in the Tel Aviv-Jaffa area, injuring 14 people.