Hundreds attend funeral for Yemeni journalists killed in Israeli strikes on Sanaa

Hundreds of people attended funeral services on Tuesday for 31 Yemeni journalists who were reportedly killed in Israeli airstrikes that targeted the Houthi-held Yemeni capital Sanaa last week.

The Houthi-run broadcaster Al Masirah TV aired the funerals on Tuesday, showing dozens inside a mosque reciting prayers. The caskets were also given a ceremonial send-off as they were carried to the burial sites, with honour guards standing beside the coffins.

However, the turnout was lower than expected, according to reports. Eyewitnesses attributed the lower attendance figures to heavy rain that hit Sanaa on Tuesday morning.

The Wednesday strikes targeted Houthi rebels in the city in response to a drone launched by the Iran-backed group, breaching the Iron Dome and other air defence systems and hitting its target, slamming into an airport in the south of Israel.

The building sustained damage, with most of the glass in the target area blowing out. One person was also injured in the strikes, though not critically.

Houthi authorities said the strikes on Sanaa killed dozens of people, including journalists. Officials say most of those killed were civilians. The strikes targeted residential areas, a gas station and a military site, according to the Houthi-run health ministry.

The National Museum of Yemen was also damaged, according to the Houthi culture ministry. Pictures and videos released show damage to the building’s façade.

The Israeli military has so far launched more than a dozen airstrikes in response to the Houthis’ firing missiles and drones at Israel and attacking cargo ships allegedly tied to Israel in the Red Sea.

The Iran-backed Houthis claim their attacks are in solidarity with Palestinians amid Israel’s ongoing offensive in the Gaza Strip, which is nearing its two-year mark.

The New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists noted that they are still actively looking into the reported deaths of the journalists from last week’s attack, due to strict Houthi censorship in place and difficulties in verifying facts on the ground in Sanaa.

The Human Rights Watch (HRW) said that Israel had also struck a media centre housing the headquarters of two newspapers on Monday, describing the attacks as another example of the dangers facing journalists in Yemen.

“The recent Israeli forces’ attack further highlights the threats journalists are facing in Yemen, not just by domestic authorities but also by external warring parties,” said HRW.