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Israeli strike kills three journalists in southern Lebanon
An Israeli airstrike targeted a vehicle carrying journalists in the town of Jezzine on Saturday, killing three media workers, their employers confirmed. The attack occurred shortly before midday local time (10:00 GMT).
Victims identified
Ali Shoeib, a reporter for the Hezbollah-linked Al Manar television channel, died in the strike. Fatima Ftouni, a journalist for Al Mayadeen, and her brother Mohamed Ftouni, a cameraman for the same network, were also killed. Both outlets reported the deaths.
Israel defends strike, labels journalist a 'terrorist'
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) acknowledged killing Shoeib, describing him as a member of Hezbollah's elite Radwan Force who had posed as a journalist. The IDF claimed Shoeib had spent years gathering intelligence on Israeli troop movements in southern Lebanon and disseminating Hezbollah propaganda. No evidence was provided to support these allegations.
The IDF did not comment on the deaths of Fatima or Mohamed Ftouni.
Condemnation from Lebanon and Iran
Hezbollah condemned the attack as a "deliberate criminal targeting of journalists," dismissing Israel's accusations as a "desperate attempt to evade responsibility." The group's statement, posted on Telegram, called the claims a sign of Israel's "weakness and fragility."
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun denounced the strike as a "brazen crime" that violated international law protecting journalists, who he described as civilians performing their professional duty. Prime Minister Nawaf Salam echoed these sentiments on X, labeling the attack a "flagrant violation of international humanitarian law."
Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi called the strike a "targeted assassination" aimed at silencing "voices of truth-tellers."
Pattern of attacks on journalists
This is the second incident in a month where Israel has been accused of targeting journalists in Lebanon. On March 18, Al Manar reported that presenter Mohammad Sherri and his wife were killed in an Israeli strike on their home in Beirut while they slept.
"We have seen a disturbing pattern in this war and in the decades prior of Israel accusing journalists of being active combatants and terrorists without providing credible evidence. Journalists are not legitimate targets, regardless of the outlet they work for."
Sara Qudah, Committee to Protect Journalists
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) warned that Lebanon had become "an increasingly deadly zone for journalists" amid the ongoing conflict.
Broader humanitarian crisis
The conflict has taken a severe toll on Lebanon's civilian population. According to the Lebanese Ministry of Health, more than 1,100 civilians, including 120 children and 42 paramedics, have been killed since the war began. Over a million people have been displaced, exacerbating an existing humanitarian crisis.
Many in Lebanon fear Israel is employing tactics similar to those used in Gaza, including the deliberate targeting of civilians, journalists, and medical workers-allegations Israel denies.
Ceasefire collapse and escalation
Israel and Hezbollah had agreed to a ceasefire in November 2024, with both sides pledging to withdraw from positions in southern Lebanon. However, the truce was only partially observed. Israel retained several military posts in the region and continued strikes on alleged Hezbollah targets, accusing the group of rearming.
Following the killing of Iran's supreme leader at the start of the current conflict, Hezbollah launched rocket attacks into northern Israel in retaliation. Israel has since intensified its operations, citing the need to protect communities in northern Israel from Hezbollah militants.
