Houthis strike Israel’s Eilat after deadly attack on Yemeni newspaper offices

Israeli airstrike killed 31 journalists in Sana’a, CPJ calls it second deadliest assault on press ever recorded

SANAA / TEL AVIV (MNTV) — Yemen’s Houthi movement launched a drone strike on Israel’s Red Sea city of Eilat on Wednesday, days after Israeli airstrikes leveled a newspaper complex in Sana’a, killing 31 journalists and media staff in what press freedom advocates say was one of the deadliest attacks on media workers in modern history.

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) said the September 10 bombing of offices belonging to Houthi-affiliated outlets, including the 26 September and Yemen newspapers, marked the second-deadliest attack on journalists ever recorded—surpassed only by the 2009 Maguindanao massacre in the Philippines.

At least 35 people were killed in total, including a child, and 131 wounded, according to Yemen’s health ministry.

“This was a brutal and unjustified attack targeting 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 26 September, in remarks to the CPJ.

The Israeli military claimed it had struck “military targets,” including the Houthis’ public relations office, which it accused of running propaganda campaigns.

But rights groups denied Israeli allegations and stressed that international humanitarian law prohibits targeting journalists unless they directly take part in hostilities.

On Wednesday, a retaliatory drone launched from Yemen struck central Eilat, injuring at least 20 people, according to Israel’s national ambulance service.

The drone exploded near a hotel, damaging buildings in the tourist district, police said.

The mayor of Eilat, Eli Lankri, urged the government to “strike the Houthis hard,” warning that repeated attacks had already disrupted operations at the city’s vital port. The Israeli military confirmed that air defense systems was unable to prevent the strike.

The Houthis have consistently targeted Israel with missiles and drones since Israel launched its war on Gaza in October 2023, calling their actions as solidarity with Palestinians where Israel has slaughtered more than 65,000 people, mostly children and women.

They have also intensified attacks on shipping lanes in the Red Sea, threatening trade linked with Israeli war economy.

Israel has responded with repeated strikes on Houthi-controlled areas, including Sana’a and the critical port of Hodeidah, mostly striking civilian infrastructure.

The September 10 bombing of the press compound in Yemen drew condemnation from the CPJ, which said Israel was systematically targeting journalists across the Middle East while labeling them as combatants.

Since October 2023, at least 247 journalists have been killed in Gaza, according to the UN.

“This latest killing spree is not only a grave violation of international law, but also a terrifying warning to journalists across the region: no place is safe,” said CPJ regional program director Sara Qudah.