Israeli Strike Kills Three Journalists in South Lebanon

Israeli occupation forces carried out an aerial attack on the place of residence of press crews in Hasbayya, southern Lebanon. As a result of the strike, several journalists, cameramen, and technicians were killed or injured.

Following the deliberate attack on the freedom of the press, Al Mayadeen announced the martyrdom of two members of its crew covering the Israeli war on Lebanon across the southern front. The martyrs are cameraman, Ghassan Najjar, and broadcast engineer, Mohammad Reda.

On his part, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Al Mayadeen Medis Network, Ghassan Ben Jeddou, held the occupation “fully responsible for this war crime in which it targeted the journalists’ crews, including Al Mayadeen’s.”

Additionally, the Lebanese Civil Defense reported early Friday that three journalists were killed in the Israeli airstrike on the town of Hasbayya in southern Lebanon.

“The occupation’s targeting of the journalists’ residence was deliberate, and there are others wounded from other Arab channels as well,” he said.

Ben Jeddou said the occupation “finds pleasure in killing,” and among those it targets are journalists “who expose its criminality, so it hates them sadistically.”

“Al Mayadeen will keep going and shall never retreat,” vowed the chairman of the network’s board of directors, asserting that the aggression did not target Al Mayadeen exclusively “as it is an aggression against all press crews, including Al Mayadeen.”

Meanwhile, Al Mayadeen’s correspondent in South Lebanon, Fatima Ftouni, confirmed that the strike targeted a residential area where journalists, cameramen, and technicians from various media outlets were stationed in the region for several weeks.

From the targeted site in Hasbayya in South Lebanon, where destruction has become a familiar sight, she asserted that the Israeli occupation directly targeted several press crews.

“Two missiles from a warplane directly targeted the press teams,” she affirmed, adding that cars parked at the site were clearly marked with ‘PRESS’.

Significantly, on Wednesday evening, the Israeli occupation also launched an attack on Al Mayadeen’s office in Beirut. However, the channel had evacuated its office at the beginning of the assault on Lebanon.

Al Mayadeen holds the Israeli occupation fully responsible for this aggression against the well-known media office of its widely-recognized news channel.

Following the attack, Lebanon’s caretaker Minister of Information, Ziad Makari, stated that the government will take measures regarding the attack on Al Mayadeen and will correspond with relevant international bodies.

In an interview for our reporters, Makari emphasized that this aggression will not affect the channel, which represents hundreds of thousands. He also paid tribute to the two martyred colleagues, Farah Omar and Rabih Ma’mari, and the other martyred journalists.

Our correspondent in South Lebanon, Farah Omar, alongside photojournalist Rabih Me’mari, and civil companion Hussein Akil were martyred on November 21 last year in an Israeli drone drone that deliberately targeted them in Tayr Harfa, South Lebanon.

An Israeli warplane fired two rockets on Farah and Rabih’s location.

They had just ended a live broadcast at 10 am, giving updates on the latest Israeli bombardment in South Lebanon. She and her colleagues were targeted soon after they wrapped up their coverage and went off air.

Our beloved colleagues consistently reported on Israeli atrocities in southern Lebanon despite Israeli threats. These two journalists were united in a bond forged by their dedication, bravery, and, ultimately, their sacrifice.