Al Jazeera journalist dies covering Syria conflict

DAMASCUS, Syria, Dec. 11 (UPI) -- Mahran Al Deeri, a correspondent for Al Jazeera Arabic's website, died Wednesday while covering the conflict in Syria.

According to his family, the 31-year-old died in a car accident while evading Syrian army gunfire near his hometown of Al Sheikh Maskin, a contested area. While attempting to avoid becoming a target of the gunfire and driving with his headlights off, Al Deeri rammed a vehicle belonging to rebel fighters and died.

Al Deeri's death occurred in the same area as the targeted killing of three journalists from Orient News, a Syrian opposition channel, days earlier.

"Targeting journalists will not deter us from reporting the truth which we have been committed to for over 18 years," said Al Jazeera's acting director Mostefa Souag. "Throughout our years of coverage we have lost many colleagues on this mission but our brave journalists are committed to this despite the constant dangers and challenges."

Al Deeri is survived by a wife and two children.