Israeli Strike Kills Three Journalists in Lebanon: Reports

An airstrike by the Israeli military has killed three television journalists, Lebanon’s state news said on Friday.

News station Al Jadeed aired footage showing collapsed buildings and dust-covered cars marked “PRESS” after an Israeli strike hit a complex of chalets rented by various media outlets.

The Israeli army did not issue a warning before the strike, which left the scene scattered with rubble, according to the news outlet.

What Happened in Lebanon?

The Beirut-based Al-Mayadeen TV reported that two of its journalists were killed in the Israeli airstrike, while Al-Manar TV, affiliated with Hezbollah, confirmed the death of its camera operator. The strike occurred in Lebanon’s Hasbaya region, an area that had largely been spared from the border conflict until now.

According to news agency AFP, the hotel was providing accommodation for 18 media staff from at least seven networks including Al Jazeera, MTV, and Sky News. The agency reported Lebanese Information Minister Zian Makary, saying Israel “intentionally targeted” journalists in the strike, which he considers a “war crime.”

Muhammad Farhat, a reporter with the Lebanese outlet Al-Jadeed, told Reuters: “We heard the airplane flying very low—that’s what woke us up—and then we heard the two missiles.”

Missile Strike in Lebanon

He said several bungalows had been damaged. “We had been reporting from there for about a month without anything happening. I don’t even know how I climbed out from under the rubble,” Farhat said.

The Israeli military is yet to comment on the strikes.

Several journalists have lost their lives since a near-daily exchange of fire began along the Lebanon-Israel border on Oct. 8, 2023. The ongoing violence has posed increasing risks for media personnel covering the escalating conflict in the region.

Gaza Strikes Continue

In Gaza, the United Nations reported Thursday that a driver for its agency assisting Palestinian refugees was killed when an Israeli strike hit a U.N.-marked vehicle in an incident.

U.N. deputy spokesperson Farhan Haq reported that an Israeli strike also killed the brother of the U.N. driver and left three passersby with minor injuries. Israel’s U.N. Ambassador Danny Danon claimed the driver was a Hamas commander allegedly involved in the Oct. 7, 2023 massacre of Israelis last year.

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) confirmed the driver’s name was included in a list of 100 staff Israel alleged were linked to Hamas’ military wing, sent to the agency in July.

UNRWA Commissioner General Philippe Lazzarini requested additional details at the time to investigate further, but UNRWA stated that as of Thursday, Lazzarini had not yet received a response from Israeli authorities.

More than 230 U.N. employees in Gaza have been killed in Israel’s offensive in the territory since the Israel-Hamas war began.

Israeli strikes on Friday also resulted in 38 fatalities in Gaza, amid rising concerns over supply shortages in Gaza. The escalation comes as international calls for a ceasefire intensify, driven by the growing humanitarian crisis in the region.

Why Is Israel Bombing Lebanon?

Israel’s offensive in Gaza has resulted in the deaths of over 42,000 Palestinians, according to health authorities, who do not distinguish between militants and civilians.

The Israel-Hamas conflict erupted on Oct. 7, 2023, when Iran-backed Hamas-led militants breached Israel’s security fence, killing around 1,200 people, mostly civilians and abducting approximately 250 others. Of the 100 hostages still thought to be held, only around 70 are believed to remain alive.

Lebanon’s health ministry reports over 2,500 deaths and 12,000 injuries in the past year due to ongoing conflict since Hezbollah, also backed by Iran, started firing rockets into Israel in support of Hamas.

The United Nations children’s agency states that 1.2 million people, including over 400,000 children, have been displaced from their homes. Since fighting intensified in September, Israeli strikes have killed much of Hezbollah’s top leadership.

This article includes reporting from The Associated Press