On Thursday, Israel launched airstrikes on Sanaa’s airport in Yemen, claiming the facility served as a hub for military operations. Israel alleged the airport was used to smuggle Iranian weapons and facilitate the movement of senior Iranian officials.
However, Julien Harneis, the UN humanitarian coordinator for Yemen, refuted these claims, asserting that the airport is a civilian facility crucial for humanitarian aid.
UN Officials Caught in the Crossfire
During the airstrikes, Harneis, along with WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and 18 other UN staff, were present at the airport. The attack left one UN staffer seriously wounded and destroyed the air traffic control facility.
“There was one airstrike approximately 300 meters to the south of us and another 300 meters to the north,” Harneis said.
Adding to the tension, a Yemenia Air flight carrying hundreds of civilians was taxiing on the runway when the air traffic control tower was destroyed.
“The plane landed safely, but the situation could have been catastrophic,” Harneis noted.
Humanitarian Operations at Risk
The Sanaa airport plays a pivotal role in delivering humanitarian aid to Yemen, a nation grappling with what the UN describes as the world’s largest humanitarian crisis. If the airport is rendered inoperable, millions of Yemenis relying on aid could face dire consequences.
Public services such as healthcare, water, sanitation, and education have already collapsed due to years of conflict. The airport serves as a lifeline for these vital operations, housing efforts by the UN, the International Committee of the Red Cross, and civilian flights.
UN Condemns Civilian Targeting
Harneis emphasized the obligation of all parties in the conflict to avoid civilian targets.
“Parties to the conflict must ensure they are not striking civilian targets. The obligation is on them, not on us,” he said.
He stressed that the airstrikes came without warning and endangered the lives of countless civilians.
Background of the Conflict
The Huthis, who control large parts of Yemen, including Sanaa, seized the capital in 2014. This has led to a prolonged war that has devastated Yemen’s infrastructure and displaced millions.
Israel’s strikes on Sanaa follow escalated long-range attacks by the Huthis after a ceasefire with Lebanon’s Hezbollah, another Iran-backed group.
