The Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, has revealed how he narrowly escaped death during Israeli air strikes on Yemen’s Sanaa International Airport on Thursday.
Speaking in an interview with BBC Radio on Saturday, Tedros recounted the harrowing experience, describing the chaotic scene as he prepared to board a flight in the Huthi rebel-held capital.
Tedros said the strikes, which targeted the airport’s departure lounge and control tower, left him shaken. “We heard a heavy explosion nearby, and then I think repeated.
“The sound was so, so loud… So deafening, actually. Still, my ear rings. It’s already more than 24 hours now. I don’t know if it affected my ear. The explosion was so heavy,” he recounted.
The WHO chief painted a vivid picture of the aftermath, describing how people fled in panic. “It was very chaotic.
“People were in disarray and running everywhere, and no shelter: we were completely exposed. It’s a matter of luck. Otherwise, if the missile deviated just slightly, it could have been on our heads… My colleague actually said after all that, we escaped death narrowly,” he added.
Tedros stressed the importance of adhering to international law, which mandates the protection of civilian infrastructure during armed conflicts.
“The protection for civilian installations under international law must be respected,” he said.
Thursday’s strikes are part of ongoing Israeli military operations in Yemen.
According to Israel’s military, the attacks targeted rebel military installations.
This marks the second air strike on Yemen since December 19, following rebel missile fire toward Israel.
The attacks on Sanaa’s airport have drawn international concern, with many calling for an end to hostilities that jeopardize civilian lives and critical infrastructure.
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