UNITED NATIONS, United States, Dec 27, 2024 (BSS/AFP) - The United Nations
chief on Thursday denounced the "escalation" in hostilities between Yemen's
Huthi rebels and Israel, terming strikes on the Sanaa airport "especially
alarming."

"The Secretary-General condemns the escalation between Yemen and Israel.
Israeli airstrikes today on Sana'a International Airport, the Red Sea ports
and power stations in Yemen are especially alarming," said a spokesperson for
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in a statement.

Israeli air strikes pummelled Sanaa's international airport and other targets
in Yemen on Thursday, with Huthi rebel media reporting six deaths.

The attack came a day after the Huthis fired a missile and two drones at
Israel.

World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on social
media he was at the airport during the strike, with the UN saying that a
member of its air crew was injured.

The United Nations put the death toll from the airport strikes at three, with
"dozens more injured".

UN chief Guterres expressed particular alarm at the threat that bombing
transportation infrastructure posed to humanitarian aid operations in Yemen,
where 80 percent of the population is dependent on aid.

"The Secretary-General remains deeply concerned about the risk of further
escalation in the region and reiterates his call for all parties concerned to
cease all military actions and exercise utmost restraint," he said.

"He also warns that airstrikes on Red Sea ports and Sana'a airport pose grave
risks to humanitarian operations at a time when millions of people are in
need of life-saving assistance."

The UN chief condemned the Huthi rebels for "a year of escalatory actions...
in the Red Sea and the region that threaten civilians, regional stability and
freedom of maritime navigation".

The Huthis are part of Iran's "axis of resistance" alliance against Israel.