Israeli Airstrike Targets Journalists, Killing Three in Southern Lebanon

Israeli forces conducted an airstrike in southern Lebanon on Saturday, resulting in the deaths of three Lebanese journalists. The Israeli military stated that the strike aimed to target one of the reporters, followed by a second strike that hit rescue workers responding to the initial attack.

Targeting of Medical Personnel

Lebanon’s health ministry reported that medical personnel were directly targeted while en route to assist the journalists. The ministry indicated that over 50 medical workers have been killed in Lebanon, including nine fatalities within the last day, attributing this to an “escalating pace” of Israeli attacks on healthcare professionals and facilities.

The Israeli military has not provided immediate comments regarding the incident. It has previously accused Hezbollah of using medical facilities for military purposes, warning that hospitals could be targeted if the group does not alter its tactics.

WHO’s Response to the Attacks

World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus emphasized that health workers are protected under international humanitarian law and “should never be targeted,” although he did not specifically mention Israel in his remarks.

The Israeli military confirmed that its airstrikes also resulted in the deaths of two soldiers from the Lebanese army on the same day. It stated that the Air Force had struck over 100 targets in Lebanon since Friday.

This incident marks the first acknowledgment by Israel of killing a journalist in Lebanon.

Details of the Casualties

Lebanese television news channel Al Manar reported that its journalist Ali Shaib and Fatima Ftouni from the pan-Arab broadcaster Al Mayadeen were killed when their vehicle was struck. Lebanon’s information minister, Paul Morcos, later confirmed that Ftouni’s brother, Mohammed, a cameraman, was also among the deceased.

The Israeli military claimed in a statement that it had targeted Shaib, labeling him a “terrorist” and alleging he was part of a Hezbollah intelligence unit. The military accused him of providing information on the locations of Israeli soldiers in Lebanon. However, the statement did not mention the other journalists or provide evidence to substantiate its claims regarding Shaib’s alleged affiliation with Hezbollah.

Hezbollah, which oversees Al Manar, denied that Shaib was involved in any intelligence operations. The group characterized Israel’s claims as a reflection of its weakness and an attempt to evade responsibility for the killings.

Official Condemnations

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun condemned the killings, describing the journalists as “civilians doing their professional duty.” He characterized the incident as a “brazen crime” that violates international treaties designed to protect journalists in conflict zones.

Since the onset of hostilities following the US and Israeli attacks on Iran, more than 1,180 individuals have reportedly been killed in Lebanon, according to local authorities.

Growing Risks for Journalists

Al Manar referred to Shaib as an “icon of resistance reporting,” while Al Mayadeen highlighted Ftouni’s courageous and objective journalism. In light of the recent killings, Reporters Without Borders has raised concerns about the increasing dangers faced by media professionals in the region.

These fatalities follow the death of Hussain Hamood, a freelance journalist for Al Manar, who was killed in an Israeli airstrike earlier in the week, as reported by the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ). Since the conflict escalated on February 28, at least three other reporters in Lebanon, Iran, and Gaza have also been killed in Israeli or joint US-Israeli airstrikes.

An Israeli strike in October 2024 targeted a collection of guesthouses in southern Lebanon that housed only journalists, resulting in the deaths of two Al Mayadeen journalists and one from Al Manar, which drew international condemnation.

As reported by www.arnnewscentre.ae.

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Published on 2026-03-28 19:33:00 • By FAME Delivered News Desk