Hundreds gathered in Sanaa on Tuesday to attend funeral services for 31 Yemeni journalists killed in Israeli airstrikes last week, targeting Houthi rebel positions in the capital. The strikes, which hit residential areas, a military headquarters, and a fuel station, followed a Houthi drone attack that struck a southern Israeli airport, injuring one and damaging infrastructure.

The bombardment also damaged the National Museum of Yemen, with visible harm to its façade, according to the Houthi-run culture ministry. A government facility in Hazm, the capital of Jawf province, was also struck, the rebels reported. Houthi-controlled Al-Masirah TV aired footage of the funerals, showing mourners in a mosque and caskets carried to burial sites.

Despite the significant loss, attendance was lower than anticipated, likely due to heavy morning rain, said Khaled Rageh and Ahmed Malhy, who spoke to reporters by phone. “It’s a huge tragedy for our community,” Rageh noted.

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The Israeli strikes came in response to ongoing Houthi attacks, including missiles and drones launched toward Israel and Red Sea shipping over the past 22 months. The Houthis claim their actions support Hamas and Palestinians amid the Gaza conflict. The airstrikes mark another escalation in the region’s complex web of violence, leaving Yemen’s media community reeling from the loss of their colleagues.

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