Exclusive | Free Media Center
On April 15, 2022, just three minutes after parting ways with his colleagues, a violent explosion rocked the Kabuta area in the temporary capital, Aden. Journalist Saber Al-Haidari’s car had arrived there when an explosive device planted in it detonated, killing him instantly.
His colleagues believe that a cell affiliated with the Houthi group tracked him, monitored his movements, and then planted the deadly device. His killing was not just an accident but a deliberate targeting of a man whose voice was a source of irritation for those who sought to obscure the truth.
A Career Filled with Journalistic Work
Saber Al-Haidari, 42, was a seasoned journalist who began his career early. Since 2002, he worked as an activities officer at the Media Center, then moved to become the head of the local communications department at the Ministry of Information in 2004. His work allowed him to accompany foreign delegations and coordinate with Arab and international media outlets before becoming the director of the follow-up department in the government spokesperson’s office in 2013.
In February 2015, he transitioned to private work as the executive director of “Friend of Media,” where he produced media materials and documentary reports for several local and international channels. One of his most prominent reports was for Japanese television, where he exposed how humanitarian aid was diverted to the frontlines or to elements affiliated with the Houthi group instead of reaching its intended recipients. This report led to the suspension of some aid in Houthi-controlled areas, making him a potential target for retaliation.
Harassment and Continuous Threats
Saber was not alone in the danger zone. He was part of a group of colleagues from the coastal Hodeidah Governorate, who faced harassment from the Houthis due to their coverage of events in the strategically located governorate on the Red Sea.
As arrests increased, several journalists managed to leave, including journalist Mahmoud Al-Atmi and his wife, journalist Rasha Al-Harazi, who settled in Aden. The journalists thought Aden would be a safe haven for them, but they were wrong.
In November 2021, while Mahmoud Al-Atmi and his wife were heading to a hospital in Aden, an explosive device planted in their car detonated, killing Rasha and her unborn child, while Mahmoud was severely injured.
The journalists were still trying to understand who was behind this attack, but just five months later, Saber Al-Haidari was killed in the same manner, turning suspicions into certainty: journalists from Hodeidah were being directly targeted by the Houthi group.
Investigations Reveal Houthi Involvement
Investigations into the targeting of Mahmoud Al-Atmi and his wife revealed that Houthi apparatuses in Hodeidah Governorate were responsible for pursuing journalists. Documented testimonies from former detainees and interrogation records revealed the names of Houthi leaders involved in the assassinations.
One journalist said, “The Houthis wanted to silence the voices of Hodeidah by any means: threats, bombings, killings… Journalists in the governorate feared for their lives after Saber’s voice was silenced by an explosive device. Now, Hodeidah has no voice, and we do not know what is happening there.”
Absence of Justice and Deadly Silence
Despite the passage of time, no one has been held accountable for the killings of Saber Al-Haidari, Rasha Al-Harazi, or other journalists who were targeted. The killers of journalists remain at large, while threats continue against anyone trying to uncover the truth.
**Previously Unpublished Details About the Assassination of Journalist Saber Al-Haidari in This Report:** (Attached Report: We attach here the Hodeidah report titled “Pursued to Death”
| This report is part of the “For the Truth” project series, implemented by the Free Media Center for Investigative Journalism in partnership with the DT Institute.