In a tragic escalation of violence, an Israeli airstrike on Friday struck a compound housing journalists in southeast Lebanon, killing three media personnel, as reported by Lebanon’s National News Agency.
Al Jadeed Footage Shows Devastation
Local news station Al Jadeed captured scenes of destruction at the site—a collection of chalets rented by various media groups. The footage revealed crumbled buildings and vehicles labeled “PRESS,” now dust-covered and strewn with debris. The Israeli military conducted the strike without issuing any prior warning.
Journalists Among the Casualties
Al-Mayadeen TV, a pan-Arab channel headquartered in Beirut, reported that two of its team members, camera operator Ghassan Najar and broadcast technician Mohammed Rida, were killed in the strike. Hezbollah-affiliated Al-Manar TV also confirmed that its camera operator, Wissam Qassim, died in the attack on Hasbaya. Israeli authorities have yet to respond to inquiries regarding the incident.
Ali Shoeib, a noted correspondent for Al-Manar, shared a video in which he mourned the loss of his colleague. “We were reporting the news and showing the suffering of the victims, and now we are the news and the victims of Israel’s crimes,” he stated in the clip aired on Al-Manar.
Hasbaya Compound Sheltered Journalists Fleeing Conflict
The Hasbaya area, where the strike occurred, had previously been less affected by border violence. Journalists had relocated there from Marjayoun, a town repeatedly targeted in recent strikes. Earlier in the week, a separate airstrike damaged an Al-Mayadeen office near Beirut’s southern suburbs, according to Lebanon’s Health Ministry.
Journalists Face Rising Dangers Amid Cross-Border Conflict
Since the conflict along the Lebanon-Israel border intensified in October 2023, journalists have been increasingly at risk. In November 2023, two Al-Mayadeen journalists died in a drone attack, and a Reuters videographer, Issam Abdallah, was killed in Israeli shelling, with reporters from Agence France-Presse and Al Jazeera also sustaining injuries.
Growing Tensions Following October 7 Hamas Incursion
This recent violence traces back to October 7, 2023, when Hamas militants launched an attack on southern Israel, leading to 1,200 Israeli deaths and 250 people being taken hostage. Israel’s ensuing offensive has resulted in significant casualties, with Gaza’s Health Ministry reporting over 42,000 Palestinian deaths, predominantly women and children. The Israeli military, however, claims to have neutralized over 17,000 combatants.
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Israel Expands Offensive to Lebanon Amid Escalating Conflict
On October 1, Israel launched a ground operation in Lebanon, targeting Hezbollah amid prolonged tensions. According to Lebanese health officials, airstrikes and shelling on Thursday led to 19 deaths within a day, pushing Lebanon’s total fatalities since October 2023 to 2,593.