Zuhair Ahmed Mohammed al-Zakri
He was killed in Israeli airstrikes on the newspaper complex in Sanaa.
On September 10, 2025, the newsroom where al-Zaakri worked was hit by a barrage of missiles during Israeli strikes on Sanaa. Witnesses described the explosions as the most powerful the city had experienced since the early years of the war. Approximately eight missiles hit the Moral Guidance Directorate headquarters, collapsing the building and burying many staff members inside. The airstrikes resulted in the deaths of 31 journalists and media employees, making this attack the deadliest incident targeting media workers in more than a decade. Al-Zaakri was among those killed instantly or crushed under the debris caused by the collapse of the structure.
Biography
Zuhair Ahmed Mohammed al-Zaakri was a Yemeni media worker employed by the 26 September and Yemen newspapers in Sanaa. He worked inside the Moral Guidance Directorate building, a complex that housed the editorial and production offices of the two publications, which are affiliated with the Yemeni army under Houthi authority. His responsibilities placed him at the heart of the newsroom’s daily operations, contributing to the production of military and political coverage during a period of intense regional conflict. On September 10, 2025, while staff at the newspapers were preparing the week’s edition, he was among the dozens of media workers killed when Israeli airstrikes struck the building. His death became part of one of the deadliest single attacks on journalists in modern history.
Zuhair Ahmed Mohammed al-Zaakri was a Yemeni media worker who contributed to the operations of the 26 September and Yemen newspapers, two key publications produced from the Moral Guidance Directorate headquarters in Sanaa. His work supported the newsroom that functioned as an informational arm of the Yemeni army’s media wing. Al-Zaakri was part of the team responsible for preparing the weekly editions and managing daily editorial routines inside the bustling complex. On September 10, 2025, he was inside the building alongside colleagues as they finalized the newspaper’s next issue when a series of Israeli airstrikes struck the complex without warning. The explosions were powerful enough to collapse parts of the multistory structure, trapping workers beneath the rubble. Al-Zaakri lost his life in this attack, becoming one of the many media workers killed during the strike that devastated the press community in Sanaa and left a lasting impact on the region’s journalistic landscape.
Sources & References
Killed by Israeli attacks. The deadliest massacre of journalists since the Maguindanao massacre.1 en.wikipedia.org Open source
Zuhair Ahmed Mohammed al-Zakri, a Yemeni media worker who worked for the 26 September and Yemen newspapers, was killed during Israel’s targeted airstrikes on the offices of the two publications in the capital, Sanaa. The September 10 attacks killed 31 journalists and media support workers. Nasser al-Khadri, editor-in-chief of 26 September, described the incident as an “unprecedented massacre of journalists.” He said multiple strikes hit the newsroom around 4:45 p.m. as staff were finalizing publication of the weekly paper, which serves as the official outlet of the Yemeni army.2 cpj.org Open source
The airstrike hit the headquarters of September 26 and Yemen newspapers, completely destroying the buildings, Saba News Agency reported. Condemning the attack as a heinous crime and calling the United Nations, the Security Council, and world media fraternity, a joint statement from the media publishers read, “This is part of a series of attacks aimed at silencing the voice of truth.”3 siasat.com Open source