The moment when the leader of the World Health Organization was hurried to safety during an Israeli airstrike at Yemen’s airport was captured in a dramatic CCTV video.
Tedros Adhanon Ghebreyesus, who heads the WHO, shared how he narrowly avoided a fatal outcome during the attack that occurred on Boxing Day, causing injuries to one of his team members and claiming the lives of at least six individuals.
In the video recorded at the airport in Sanaa, the capital of Yemen, Mr. Ghebreyesus is seen calmly seated in what seems to be a waiting area before swiftly being alerted by his colleagues to evacuate the premises.
Linking arms with two men, the 59-year-old is rushed out of the room to safety.
The video then cuts to show the moment the Israeli strike hits the control tower sending debris and smoke billowing into the air.
Another angle shows a UN World Food Programme plane sitting stationary on the runway just seconds before the missile hits the control tower. Once the smoke has receded an injured person can be seen lying on the floor.
Speaking to the BBC, Mr Ghebreyesus described the incident as ‘chaotic’ with people in ‘disarray and running everywhere’.
He said: ‘There was no shelter, so we were completely exposed. It’s a matter of luck, otherwise if the missile deviated just slightly it could have been on our heads.
‘So my colleague actually said, after all that, we escaped death narrowly.’
He also added that the civilian airport should not have been attacked by Israel and a fellow UN chief described the strikes as ‘alarming’.
The WHO boss was in Yemen to negotiate the release of detained staff and assess the health and humanitarian situation in the war-torn country.
In a post on X, formerly Twitter, he revealed that one of his plane’s crew members were injured.
Mr Ghebreyesus said: ‘As we were about to board our flight from Sanaa, about two hours ago, the airport came under aerial bombardment.
‘One of our plane’s crew members was injured. At least two people were reported killed at the airport.
‘The air traffic control tower, the departure lounge — just a few meters from where we were — and the runway were damaged. We will need to wait for the damage to the airport to be repaired before we can leave.’
He added: ‘Our mission to negotiate the release of staff detainees and to assess the health and humanitarian situation in Yemen concluded today.
‘We continue to call for the detainees’ immediate release.’
Speaking on X yesterday he said that his injured colleague was in Jordan now receiving medical treatment.
Israel has described today’s attacks as targeted strikes on ‘military infrastructure’ used by the Houthi rebels.
It comes after the Iran-backed group launched four ballistic missiles against Israel last week. One of which injured 16 people in Tel Aviv.
Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel Prime Minister, told Parliament: ‘I have instructed our forces to destroy the infrastructure of Houthis because anyone who tries to harm us will be struck with full force.
‘We will continue to crush the forces of evil with strength and ingenuity, even if it takes time.’
The Times reported that the Israeli Defence Force (IDF) had hit targets across western ports in Yemen as well as Hezyaz and Ras Kanatib power stations.
The IDF has claimed the sites ‘were used by the Houthi terrorist regime to smuggle Iranian weapons into the region and for the entry of senior Iranian officials.’
This is the fourth time Israel has launched airstrikes targeting Yemeni infrastructure since the Houthis began launching missiles at Israel following the October 7 attacks last year.
After continuous attacks on shipping passing through the Red Sea, US and UK forces have also launched strikes against the Houthis.
The Yemeni civil war has torn the country apart and for over a decade the Iran-back Houthis have been fighting the Saudi-backed Yemeni government.
According the UN estimates over 300,000 people have lost their lives as a result of the conflict.
