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‘Disastrous Effects’ on Yemeni Journalism During Coup Years

A Yemeni journalist in Sanaa carrying a camera after passing through a security scanner (EPA)
A Yemeni journalist in Sanaa carrying a camera after passing through a security scanner (EPA)
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‘Disastrous Effects’ on Yemeni Journalism During Coup Years

A Yemeni journalist in Sanaa carrying a camera after passing through a security scanner (EPA)
A Yemeni journalist in Sanaa carrying a camera after passing through a security scanner (EPA)

A recent survey study, published on World Press Freedom Day, has uncovered the devastating impact of the Houthi coup and the ongoing war on press freedom and media in Yemen. The study highlighted the significant challenges faced by journalists in Yemen, including limitations on independence, funding, and the protection of their rights.

The study, conducted by the Yemeni Journalists’ Syndicate in collaboration with the International Federation of Journalists, examined 365 various media outlets, including television channels, radio stations, newspapers, magazines, and websites.

The findings showed that 165 of these media outlets have ceased operations due to the war and its effects, while 137 new outlets have emerged during the conflict.

The study found that 22 out of 26 satellite channels remain in operation, while four have stopped. While 54 of the 60 local radio stations continue to operate, 6 have ceased operations.

Meanwhile, the impact of the war on print media has been devastating, with 119 newspapers having to shut down compared to only 13 out of 132 that were operational prior to the coup.

The newspapers that are still in circulation are distributed across the country, with five newspapers being published Sanaa, six in Aden, and two in Taiz. Of these newspapers, 10 were established and published during the war, including five in Aden, four in Sanaa, and one in Taiz.

Based on the study, the majority of the 147 news websites have been blocked by the Houthi militias, who control the communication networks, preventing followers inside Yemen from accessing them. Additionally, 33 of these websites have ceased to operate altogether.

The study also revealed that out of 365 media outlets, not even one disclosed its funding sources and financial data. Of these outlets, 111 are for-profit, while 254 are non-profit.

Only 40 media outlets have contracts with journalists, but these contracts do not guarantee all economic, financial, and insurance rights and are not suitable for the nature of journalistic work and its risks during times of war.

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Türkiye Backing Syria’s Military and Has No Immediate Withdrawal Plans, Defense Minister Says 

Turkish Defense Minister Yasar Guler attends a signing ceremony of a memorandum of understanding on establishing a mine countermeasures naval group in the Black Sea, aimed at clearing mines floating there as a result of the war in Ukraine, in Istanbul, Türkiye, January 11, 2024. (Reuters)
Turkish Defense Minister Yasar Guler attends a signing ceremony of a memorandum of understanding on establishing a mine countermeasures naval group in the Black Sea, aimed at clearing mines floating there as a result of the war in Ukraine, in Istanbul, Türkiye, January 11, 2024. (Reuters)
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Türkiye Backing Syria’s Military and Has No Immediate Withdrawal Plans, Defense Minister Says 

Turkish Defense Minister Yasar Guler attends a signing ceremony of a memorandum of understanding on establishing a mine countermeasures naval group in the Black Sea, aimed at clearing mines floating there as a result of the war in Ukraine, in Istanbul, Türkiye, January 11, 2024. (Reuters)
Turkish Defense Minister Yasar Guler attends a signing ceremony of a memorandum of understanding on establishing a mine countermeasures naval group in the Black Sea, aimed at clearing mines floating there as a result of the war in Ukraine, in Istanbul, Türkiye, January 11, 2024. (Reuters)

Türkiye is training and advising Syria's armed forces and helping improve its defenses, and has no immediate plans for the withdrawal or relocation of its troops stationed there, Defense Minister Yasar Guler told Reuters.

Türkiye has emerged as a key foreign ally of Syria's new government since opposition groups - some of them backed for years by Ankara - ousted former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in December to end his family's five-decade rule.

It has promised to help rebuild neighboring Syria and facilitate the return of millions of Syrian civil war refugees, and played a key role last month getting US and European sanctions on Syria lifted.

The newfound Turkish influence in Damascus has raised Israeli concerns and risked a standoff or worse in Syria between the regional powers.

In written answers to questions from Reuters, Guler said Türkiye and Israel, which carried out its latest airstrikes on southern Syria late on Tuesday, are continuing de-confliction talks to avoid military accidents in the country.

Türkiye’s overall priority in Syria is preserving its territorial integrity and unity, and ridding it of terrorism, he said, adding Ankara was supporting Damascus in these efforts.

"We have started providing military training and consultancy services, while taking steps to increase Syria's defense capacity," Guler said, without elaborating on those steps.

Named to the post by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan two years ago, Guler said it was too early to discuss possible withdrawal or relocation of the more than 20,000 Turkish troops in Syria.

Ankara controlled swathes of northern Syria and established dozens of bases there after several cross-border operations in recent years against Kurdish militants it deems terrorists.

This can "only be re-evaluated when Syria achieves peace and stability, when the threat of terrorism in the region is fully removed, when our border security is fully ensured, and when the honorable return of people who had to flee is done," he said.

NATO member Türkiye has accused Israel of undermining Syrian peace and rebuilding with its military operations there in recent months and, since late 2023, has also fiercely criticized Israel's assault on Gaza.

But the two regional powers have been quietly working to establish a de-confliction mechanism in Syria.

Guler described the talks as "technical level meetings to establish a de-confliction mechanism to prevent unwanted events" or direct conflict, as well as "a communication and coordination structure".

"Our efforts to form this line and make it fully operational continue. Yet it should not be forgotten that the de-confliction mechanism is not a normalization," he told Reuters.