skip to contentAdvertisementThe strike hit a newspaper complex in Sana’a on 10 September, housing three Houthi-linked media outlets.By: Express Web Desk September 20, 2025 11:00 PM IST First published on: Sep 20, 2025 at 10:42 PM IST ShareWhatsapptwitterFacebookYemenis cary the coffins of 31 local journalists reportedly killed in Israeli airstrikes last week, during their funeral in Sanaa, Yemen. (AP Photo)Thirty-one journalists and media staff were killed in Israeli strikes on newspaper offices in Yemen last week, in what the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has called the deadliest attack on journalists since 2009.The strike hit a newspaper complex in Sana’a on 10 September, housing three Houthi-linked media outlets. At the time, staff of the 26 September and Yemen newspapers — both affiliated with the Houthis — were working on their weekly edition, increasing the number of journalists inside. In total, 35 people were killed, including a child accompanying a journalist, while 131 others were wounded, according to Yemen’s Houthi-run health ministry.“This 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,” said Nasser al-Khadri, editor-in-chief of the 26 September newspaper, The Guardian reported.The CPJ, The Guardian reported, said the strike was the second-deadliest incident for journalists it has ever recorded, after the 2009 Maguindanao massacre in the Philippines, in which 32 journalists were killed.The Israeli military said it targeted “military sites” in Sana’a, including what it described as the Houthis’ public relations arm, accusing it of spreading “psychological terror.” The strikes were framed as retaliation for repeated Houthi attacks on Israel, which the Houthis say are acts of solidarity with Palestinians during the war in Gaza. The group has fired missiles at Israel and attacked Red Sea shipping since October 2023.Rights groups stressed that journalists, even those affiliated with armed groups, are considered civilians under international law unless directly participating in hostilities.Most Read1Pakistan Defence Minister’s bombshell: If need be, our nuclear programme can be given to the Saudis2Trump slaps $100K fee on H-1B visas, rolls out ‘Gold Card’ residency path in new immigration action3‘A spit in the face of citizens’: Israel’s culture minister threatens to pull funding after film about Palestinian boy wins big at Israeli Oscars4Indian techie shot dead by police in US’ California; family urges MEA to bring back body5As Trump raises fee, top 10 US companies sponsoring most H-1B visas, TCS ranks 26Trump announces TikTok deal, surprise China visit ‘early next year’ after call with XiThe CPJ said the Yemen attack fits a broader pattern of Israel killing journalists across the region while justifying such strikes by labelling them as combatants. Since 7 October 2023, at least 247 journalists have been killed in Gaza, according to the UN. Israel has also targeted journalists in Lebanon, including those linked to pro-Hezbollah outlets.“Since 7 October, Israel has emerged as a regional killer of journalists,” said CPJ regional programme director Sara Qudah, The Guardian. “This latest killing spree is a grave violation of international law and a terrifying warning to journalists across the region: no place is safe.”AdvertisementAdvertisementLoading Taboola...