Yemeni journalist killed by car bomb

• A Yemeni journalist was killed by a car bomb in Aden, a security official said on Thursday.
• Saber al-Haidari worked for a number of foreign media outlets.
• He had been a correspondent for the Chinese News Agency.

A Yemeni journalist was killed by a car bomb in Aden, the country’s second largest city and the seat of the internationally recognised government, a security official said on Thursday.

The official, who requested anonymity, added, “Unidentified assailants had planted an explosive device in the vehicle of journalist Saber al-Haidari, who works for a number of foreign media outlets.”

Read more: At least 19 civilians killed in Yemen despite 2-month truce

He stated that the incident was comparable to the November car bombing that murdered pregnant Yemeni journalist Rasha Abdullah al-Harazi. Her journalist spouse, Mahmud al-Atmi, was injured.

No immediate claim of responsibility for the incident was made.

According to Reporters Without Borders (RSF), Haidari “was killed yesterday (Wednesday) night after an explosive device was placed in his car”.

It stated that he had been a correspondent for the Chinese News Agency.

In 2014, Huthi rebels backed by Iran took over the capital city of Sanaa. This forced President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi and his supporters to flee to Aden and then Saudi Arabia.

A 2015 military intervention led by Saudi Arabia enabled the government to retake Aden and much of the south.

Read more: Yemen’s cease-fire has been extended for another two months

All parties have threatened retribution against Yemeni journalists attempting to report the crisis. According to RSF, this includes both Al-Qaeda jihadists and rebels as well as government loyalists.

“Militias subject them to violence and abuse, and they risk being the targets of death threats, murders, or bombings,” the watchdog warned.