'Israel' Assassinates 31 Journalists in Yemen

By Saba – Sep 20, 2025

In one of the largest massacres witnessed by journalism worldwide, the Israeli enemy committed a horrific crime against journalists in Yemen last Wednesday, directly targeting the headquarters of the 26 September and Al-Yemen newspapers in the capital, Sana’a. This resulted in the deaths of 31 journalists, in one of the most heinous crimes against journalists in modern history.

What the Israeli enemy committed in targeting the two newspapers’ headquarters constitutes a war crime for which it deserves trial and punishment. However, its continued impunity is what has driven it to persist in committing its crimes, including this crime, in which journalists were targeted in their workplaces with the most lethal weapons, resulting in dozens of victims in one of the largest crimes witnessed by journalism in its history.

Despite all this, the world, including trade union platforms, remains silent regarding the brutality and unprecedented targeting of journalists in Yemen. Journalists performing their duties at the altar of expression were targeted under the banner of journalism.

Thirty-one journalists were killed in a barbaric attack on the headquarters of two newspapers in a residential neighborhood in the capital, Sana’a. In addition to the massacre of journalists, a parallel crime was committed against passersby and residents of neighboring homes, several of whose members were killed, this makes this crime unprecedented in its double standard of victims, primarily journalists.

International and regional journalists’ federations are now tasked with taking a stand and condemning this crime committed by the Israeli enemy against journalists in Sana’a, they should also demand the formation of an international committee to investigate this massacre, which targeted journalists whose protection is guaranteed under all circumstances by international conventions.

Targeting media outlets, which are civilian facilities, is a flagrant violation of all international norms, conventions, and laws that protect journalists even in conflict zones, classifying them as civilians who may not be harmed.

According to international humanitarian law, specifically Article (79) of Additional Protocol I to the Geneva Conventions, journalists carrying out their duties in conflict zones are considered civilians and must enjoy full protection from any attack.

Directly targeting journalists is considered a grave violation that requires accountability before international courts, including the International Criminal Court. Targeting media institutions also violates the principles of distinction and military necessity, and demonstrates a deliberate intent to silence media voices opposing the occupation.

Despite the enormity of this crime committed by the Zionist enemy, which targeted the two newspapers’ headquarters with multiple airstrikes and was witnessed by the entire world, no clear condemnation was issued by the international community, human rights bodies, or relevant international organizations that champion freedom of the press, opinion, and expression.

The United Nations also failed to issue a single statement condemning this brutal crime, which represents a stain on humanity, this raises many questions about the double standards in dealing with journalists’ cases from one country to another. It also reflects international complicity in and deliberate disregard for this crime.

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The targeting of journalists in the capital, Sana’a, was not merely a random military action; it was a deliberate targeting of the truth and a terrorizing of journalists aimed at silencing the media and free voices that expose the crimes of the Zionist entity in Gaza and Yemen.

This crime comes as part of the Zionist enemy’s attempts to break the resolve and will of Yemeni journalists, who have proven their effective presence in uncovering the truth and confronting the enemy’s media machine, which seeks to undermine the position of Yemen—its leadership, army, and people—in supporting the nation’s causes and defending its sanctities, foremost among them the Palestinian cause.

The international silence regarding this crime, which claimed the lives of a group of journalists, constitutes a moral and humanitarian failure, it constitutes a cover-up for this crime, and even constitutes complicity in it.

The Yemeni press community expects Arab, Islamic, and international media and journalistic institutions and unions to take action to condemn this crime, pressure its perpetrators to be held accountable, and work to activate international accountability mechanisms against this terrorist entity that murders journalists.

(SABA)