Daijiworld Media Network – Aden
Aden, Jun 26: A Yemeni journalist working for Saudi-backed television networks Al-Arabiya and Al-Hadath was killed in a car bombing in southeastern Yemen, prompting authorities to launch an investigation into the attack.
Mohamed Eida died late on Wednesday after an explosive device planted in his vehicle detonated in the port city of Mukalla in Hadramout province, according to the broadcaster. The network said local authorities had warned him about a month ago that his life was under threat.
Eida's body has not yet been returned to his family as authorities have retained it as part of the ongoing investigation, a relative said.
Yemen's Presidential Leadership Council Chairman Rashad al-Alimi confirmed the killing and ordered local authorities to identify those responsible. While no official suspect has been named, Al-Hadath reported that two suspects had been arrested and a third was being pursued.
The Yemeni Journalists Syndicate strongly condemned the bombing, describing it as a terrorist attack and a serious violation of press freedom. The organisation warned that failure to bring those responsible to justice would encourage further attacks on journalists and undermine freedom of expression.
UN Special Envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg also condemned the killing, calling for the protection of journalists and welcoming efforts to establish the facts and ensure accountability.
According to the journalists' syndicate, Eida had previously fled the Houthi-controlled capital, Sanaa, after being pursued by Houthi rebels while working for the US-funded broadcaster Alhurra. Al-Arabiya reported that armed men had attempted to arrest him, raided his home and seized his belongings, forcing him to relocate first to Aden and later to Mukalla, where he joined the Saudi-backed network.
Yemen has remained one of the world's most dangerous countries for journalists due to its prolonged civil war, which erupted after the Iran-backed Houthis seized Sanaa and large parts of northern Yemen more than a decade ago. The internationally recognised government has since been backed by a Saudi-led coalition.
Media organisations have repeatedly raised concerns over the safety of journalists in the conflict-hit country, where attacks on media personnel continue amid ongoing political instability and violence.