Yemen: Journalist killed in car bomb in Mukalla

Journalist Mohammed Aydah was killed, on 24 June, by an explosive device planted in his car in the city of Mukalla, in the Hadhramaut governorate of Yemen. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) joins its affiliate, the Yemeni Journalists' Syndicate (YJS), in strongly condemning the killing and demanding an independent and prompt investigation to hold the perpetrators to account.

Credit: IFJ.

Mohammed Aydah was a correspondent for the Saudi Arabian State-owned media outlets Al-Arabiya and Al-Hadath. Several years ago, he was forced to flee the capital city of Sana'a after the de facto authority in the city pursued him and laid siege to his workplace.

According to security sources cited by YJS, Aydah had received threats in previous weeks. The city's security authorities had brought these threats to his attention. On the evening of 24 June, Aydah was killed by an explosive device that detonated in his car in Mukalla.

Aydah is the first journalist to be killed in Yemen in 2026, according to IFJ data.

In their statement, the YJS demanded "[...] that the security and judicial authorities in the Hadramout governorate and the competent authorities in the Yemeni government swiftly open an urgent, transparent, and independent investigation'' and called them to" [...] reveal all circumstances of the crime, identify the perpetrators, instigators, and planners, and bring them to justice to receive their deterrent punishment, especially after the threats he received weeks ago, according to security sources".

IFJ General Secretary Anthony Bellanger said: "We strongly condemn the killing of Mohammed Aydah. Our colleagues in Yemen are working in extremely challenging circumstances, facing killings, detentions and harassment. We urge the authorities to conduct an independent and prompt investigation into this attack and to hold the perpetrators to account. We also demand that the government cooperate with the YJS in establishing a national media safety mechanism to protect journalists. Impunity must end now.