"Yemeni newspaper offices under fire by Israeli attacks, marks deadliest press assault in 16 years"
In a shocking turn of events, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) conducted strikes on newspaper offices in Yemen, resulting in the death of several journalists and media support workers. The attacks, which occurred on the afternoon of 10 September in the city of Sanaa, mark the deadliest single strike on the press since 2009, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ).
The targeted newspaper, 26 September, is the official outlet of the Yemeni army, which is under the control of Houthi rebels in Sanaa. The IDF has insisted its forces do not target the media, but the CPJ has reported that several civilian journalists with no military affiliation were among those killed in the strikes.
The Yemeni Journalists Syndicate (YJS) acknowledges that the 26 September publication is Houthi-controlled. However, the IDF stated that the Houthi public relations department, which they claimed was responsible for distributing propaganda messages in the media, was among the targets. The IDF did not comment on the specific strike on the 26 September offices in its initial statement, but later responded to the CPJ's questions about the strike.
Among the deceased were Anas al Sharif, one of the Al Jazeera journalists killed, and four of his colleagues: Mohammed Qreiqeh, Ibrahim Zaher, Mohammed Noufal, and Moamen Aliwa. A child, who accompanied a journalist to work, was also among the dead.
The attacks have been met with strong condemnation from media freedom organisations. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) reported that 220 journalists in Gaza have been killed by the Israeli army since October 2023. The CPJ's al Khadri described the strikes as an "unprecedented massacre of journalists".
Twenty-two journalists were injured in the attacks. The IDF has insisted that some journalists killed have been members of Hamas, but the CPJ has emphasised that the journalists targeted were civilians with no military affiliation.
It is important to note that the newspaper struck is not affiliated with the International Federation of Journalists. The Israeli attacks on the editorial offices on September 26 in Sanaa were carried out by the Israeli Air Force targeting positions associated with the Huthi militia, which controls parts of the city, not by Yemeni government troops. These strikes were conducted in response to Houthi missile attacks against Israel.
As the world grapples with the implications of these attacks, the importance of protecting journalists and media freedom cannot be overstated. The loss of these five Al Jazeera employees and the 31 journalists and media support workers is a tragic reminder of the dangers faced by those who seek to bring truth to light in times of conflict.
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