A correspondent for Saudi Arabia’s Al Arabiya television was killed in Yemen after a bomb planted on his vehicle exploded in the eastern city of Mukalla, Reuters reported on Thursday, citing the broadcaster.Mohammed Aydah, a Yemeni journalist who reported for Al Arabiya and its sister channel Al Hadath, was killed late Wednesday in Mukalla, the capital of Hadramout governorate.According to Al Arabiya, local security authorities had warned Aydah about a month ago that his life was under threat, though no details were provided. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack.
STC links attack to deteriorating security situation
The Southern Transitional Council (STC) condemned the killing, describing it as an assassination and a sign of broader security challenges facing Hadramout.In a statement, the STC blamed the deteriorating situation on the dismantling of security units that had played a key role in driving Al Qaeda militants out of the region in 2016.
Yemen orders high-level investigation
Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council chief Rashad al-Alimi directed the formation of a high-level joint committee to investigate the attack. He said the government would spare no effort in identifying and bringing the perpetrators to justice.Yemen has remained mired in conflict since 2014, when the Iran-backed Houthi movement seized the capital Sanaa, triggering a Saudi-led military intervention. Years of fighting have left the country deeply fragmented and unstable.
One of the world’s deadliest places for journalists
The Committee to Protect Journalists has repeatedly described Yemen as one of the most dangerous countries in the world for media professionals.The killing comes amid growing concerns over the safety of journalists in conflict zones globally. According to the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate (PJS), at least 236 Palestinian journalists and media workers have been killed during the war in Gaza.The organisations have called for independent investigations into the deaths and urged greater protections for journalists covering armed conflicts.
