Three journalists killed in IDF invasion on media compound in Southern Lebanon
An early-morning Israeli invasion targeted a media compound in the town of Hasbaya in southeastern Lebanon, killing three journalists and wounding several others.
The attack, which reportedly occurred at around 3 a.m. while media personnel were resting, left the press community in mourning and added to the mounting toll on civilians and journalists caught in the Israel-Hezbollah conflict.
This escalation in Lebanon unfolds as Israel’s broader military campaign intensifies in Gaza, leading to significant casualties and increasing humanitarian concerns.
According to Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency, the Israeli strike killed Ghassan Najar and Mohammed Rida, a camera operator and broadcast technician for Al-Mayadeen TV, a pan-Arab news network based in Beirut, and Wissam Qassim, a camera operator for Al-Manar TV, which is linked to Hezbollah.
The Lebanese Information Minister, Ziad Makari, condemned the attack, calling it an “assassination” and “war crime.”
The attack hit a compound where 18 journalists from at least seven media organizations were staying, all reportedly marked as members of the press and gathered in Hasbaya due to its perceived safety from direct strikes in recent weeks.
The fatal attack on the press compound has raised alarm over Israel’s actions targeting journalists in conflict zones, a trend that has drawn scrutiny in recent months.
Since hostilities flared on the Israel-Lebanon border in October 2023, at least 12 Lebanese journalists have died, nine of them in recent weeks.
Notably, Reuters journalist Issam Abdallah was killed by Israeli shelling in October 2023, along with injuries sustained by multiple foreign journalists reporting in the region.
In Lebanon, an Israeli tank fired on a group of journalists clearly marked as press, sparking international outrage and leading several US lawmakers to call for an independent investigation into Israel’s military conduct toward the press.
The Committee to Protect Journalists and the United Nations have issued statements calling for better protections for journalists, especially in regions with high civilian presence.
Israel, however, has defended its actions, alleging links between some media members and militant organizations like Hamas.
These claims, however, have been dismissed as attempts to intimidate independent reporting, according to press advocacy organizations.
Al-Mayadeen’s director, Ghassan bin Jiddo, expressed grief over the loss of his colleagues and insisted the Israeli military bore responsibility for what he called a “premeditated targeting” of the press.
He added that Al-Mayadeen would continue its reporting despite the risks.
Lebanese correspondent Ali Shoeib of Al-Manar, who was working alongside Qassim, recounted the dangers faced by media teams documenting the region’s humanitarian crisis, stating, “We were reporting the news and showing the suffering of the victims, and now we are the news.”
Footage aired by Al Jadeed TV, another local news station, showed vehicles marked “PRESS” covered in dust and rubble in front of collapsed buildings, a grim illustration of the risks for journalists on the ground.
As international condemnation mounts, Lebanon’s health ministry reports that the broader conflict has killed over 2,500 Lebanese civilians and displaced approximately 1.2 million people, including hundreds of thousands of children, according to the United Nations.
Aerial and ground attacks have led to infrastructure damage in multiple towns along the Lebanon-Israel border, traditionally a volatile region due to the presence of Hezbollah forces.
The conflict’s effects in Lebanon are part of a broader regional crisis, as Israel also expands its military invasion in Gaza following October 2023.
The retaliatory campaign in Gaza has reportedly claimed over 42,000 Palestinian lives, with Gaza’s health ministry reporting that half of these are women and children.
Israel claims that it has killed an estimated 17,000 militants, though local officials in Gaza highlight the significant civilian toll and worsening humanitarian conditions, including critical shortages of food, water, and medical supplies.
In response to growing casualties and widespread displacement, the United States and Qatar are set to host ceasefire talks in Doha, aiming to de-escalate the region’s tensions.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, during recent talks in Doha, remarked that the priority should be on enabling Gaza’s reconstruction.
Blinken indicated that the discussions would also focus on strategies for Israel’s withdrawal from Gaza once military objectives are fulfilled.
As the talks approach, Israel’s Mossad chief David Barnea plans to meet with US and Qatari officials in Doha to discuss potential ceasefire options.
Recently, twelve US lawmakers, including Senators Bernie Sanders and Peter Welch and Representative Becca Balint, have urged President Joe Biden to initiate an independent investigation into the Israeli attack that killed Reuters journalist Issam Abdallah and injured six others, including American journalist Dylan Collins, during an assignment in southern Lebanon on Octobe
With accusations of war crimes mounting, particularly related to attacks on media workers, pressure on Israel to reconsider its engagement protocols in conflict zones has grown.