Representation of Turkey in Yemeni Media: A Case Study of El-Mesira Channel and Aden Independent Channel

This study aims to examine the representation of Turkey in news and news programs broadcasted by private Yemeni television channels, focusing on discourse type, ideological frameworks employed in news coverage, and editorial policies followed by these channels. For this purpose, discourses from news and news programs published on the websites of el-Mesira, affiliated with Ansar Allah (Houthis), and Aden Independent Channel, aligned with the Southern Transitional Council, were analyzed using van Dijk's Critical Discourse Analysis model for the period from July 1 to December 31, 2020. The analysis revealed that Aden Independent Channel concentrated on Turkish-Qatari relations, accusing both countries of providing financial and military support to the legitimate government forces, which the channel deemed affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood (Al-Islah Party). The channel also asserted that the legitimate government was aligned with Turkey and Iran, implementing Qatar's agenda in Yemen. Simultaneously, the channel considered the forces of the Southern Transitional Council as the sole faction fighting against the legitimate government forces and Ansar Allah (Houthis), who aimed to thwart the council's project of establishing an independent state in southern Yemen. On the other hand, el-Mesira reacted negatively to the presence of Turkish armed forces in Syria. Concerning the Yemeni crisis, the channel viewed Turkey positively, particularly in light of Turkey's criticism of the negative role played by the United Arab Emirates in Yemen, resulting in the deaths of thousands and the spread of famine among millions of Yemenis.