Israel's attack on Yemeni newspaper complex kills 31 media workers

"Thirty one journalists and media staff were killed by Israeli strikes on newspaper offices in Yemen last week in what the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) said on Friday was the deadliest attack on journalists in the last 16 years. Israel struck a newspaper complex in Sana'a, Yemen's capital, which housed three Houthi-connected media outlets on 10 September. At the time, members of the Yemeni army's press arm were finishing the weekly print edition, according to the publication's editor-in-chief, which increased the number of journalists present during the strike."

"At least 35 people were killed in the attack, including one child who accompanied a journalist to the office, and 131 were wounded, according to the Houthi ministry of health. All of the journalists worked for either the Houthi-affiliated 26 September newspaper or Yemen newspaper. The attack was the second-deadliest against journalists that the CPJ had ever recorded, after the Maguindanao massacre in the Philippines in 2009."

"It is a brutal and unjustified attack that targeted innocent people whose only crime was working in the media field, armed with nothing but their pens and words, Nasser al-Khadri, the editor-in-chief of 26 September, told the CPJ. Killing journalists or media workers, even those who have an affiliation to armed groups, is against international humanitarian law unless they directly take part in hostilities."

"The Israeli military said in a statement that it had struck military targets in Sana'a that included the Houthi public relations department which distributed psychological terror. It also said the strikes were in retaliation to continued Houthi attacks on Israel, which the Houthis have said are meant as solidarity with Palestinians during the war on Gaza. The Houthis have consistently launched missiles at Israel since the beginning of the conflict in Gaza, and have targeted ships in the Red Sea which they determine to have an association with Israel."

An Israeli strike hit a newspaper complex in Sana'a on 10 September that housed three Houthi-connected media outlets, killing 31 journalists and media staff. Members of the Yemeni army's press arm were finishing the weekly print edition, increasing the number of people present. At least 35 people in total were killed and 131 wounded, including a child. All journalist victims worked for Houthi-affiliated outlets 26 September or Yemen newspaper. The attack ranks among the deadliest against journalists, and international humanitarian law prohibits killing media workers unless they directly take part in hostilities. Israel said it targeted Houthi military and PR installations in retaliation for Houthi attacks.

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