At least three people were killed and many injured in the Israeli airstrikes.
A crew member of the United Nations Humanitarian Air Service was injured in an attack on the airport in the capital Sanaa. Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the United Nations Health Organization, was also present at the time of the attack and was preparing to board a plane after completing his mission in the country.
After the attack, he said through a message on social media that his team is safe.
The WHO chief’s team arrived there to discuss the humanitarian situation in Yemen and efforts to free UN and other agency workers held hostage there.
Houthi fighters (Ansar Allah group) control the capital Sanaa and have been in conflict with the internationally recognized Yemeni government and the Saudi Arabia-led coalition for nearly a decade.
The Israeli military’s attack on Thursday, a year after an attack by Houthi fighters in the Red Sea, jeopardized maritime traffic and increased regional instability.
Secretary-General Guterres emphasized that international law must be followed and the protection of civilians and infrastructure must be ensured.
The UN chief stressed that humanitarian aid workers should not be targeted and should always be protected.
He expressed deep concern over the conflict in the Middle East region and appealed to all parties to refrain from military action and exercise maximum restraint.
At the same time, the Secretary-General warned that attacks on Red Sea ports and Sanaa’s airport would hamper humanitarian aid operations, at a time when millions of people in the country need life-saving humanitarian relief.
According to the UN chief, an escalation of conflict in the region could undermine mediation efforts led by special envoy Hans Grundberg towards a political solution in Yemen.
He called for the immediate and unconditional release of all UN staff and other agency workers held hostage by Houthi fighters.