An early morning airstrike by Israel in southeast Lebanon resulted in the tragic deaths of three journalists who were asleep at a guesthouse. The strike occurred at 3 a.m. and destroyed the site where media outlets were staying to cover the war. The area had been used as a base for journalists reporting on the conflict. Cars marked “PRESS” were overturned, and a satellite dish for live broadcasting was destroyed. Israeli forces did not issue a warning before the strike, which they claimed was aimed at Hezbollah militant infrastructure. The military later stated that the strike was under review.
The journalists killed in the attack were Ghassan Najjar and Mohammed Rida from Al-Mayadeen TV, as well as Wissam Qassim from Al-Manar TV, which is affiliated with Hezbollah. This incident is part of a series of Israeli attacks on journalists covering conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon over the past year. Human rights groups have condemned the deliberate targeting of journalists as a war crime.
Lebanese Information Minister Ziad Makary described the deaths as an “assassination” and emphasized that the journalists were among a group of media members present at the location. Israel’s actions have raised concerns about press freedom and the safety of journalists in conflict zones. The Committee to Protect Journalists called for an independent investigation into the incident.
The airstrike in Lebanon is part of a disturbing trend where journalists are increasingly becoming targets in conflict zones. Israel has been accused of targeting press centers to silence reporting on military offensives. The deaths of journalists have sparked international outrage and calls for accountability.
In the past year, at least 11 journalists have been killed and eight wounded by Israeli fire in Lebanon. The situation highlights the risks journalists face while reporting on conflicts and the importance of protecting press freedom. The international community must address these issues to ensure the safety of journalists and uphold the principles of journalism in conflict zones.
