Three Lebanese Journalists Killed in Israeli Strike, Say Broadcasters

A targeted Israeli strike in southern Lebanon on Saturday claimed the lives of three journalists, their employers confirmed. Among the casualties was Ali Shoeib, a reporter for Hezbollah-linked Al Manar TV, who died in Jezzine. His companions, Fatima Ftouni and her brother Mohamed Ftouni, both affiliated with Al Mayadeen, were also killed in the attack. The strike reportedly struck their vehicle just before noon local time (10:00 GMT).

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) acknowledged killing Shoeib, identifying him as a “terrorist” from Hezbollah’s elite Radwan Force. The military said he had “operated for years as a journalist” while secretly “exposing IDF soldier positions in southern Lebanon and the border region.” However, the IDF provided no proof of his combat involvement. The deaths of Fatima and Mohamed Ftouni were not addressed by the forces.

Political Condemnation

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun described the incident as a “brazen crime,” emphasizing it violated “the most basic rules” of international law by targeting reporters, who are “ultimately civilians in their professional capacity.” Prime Minister Nawaf Salam echoed the criticism, calling the attack a “flagrant violation of international humanitarian law” and a “clear breach” of protections for journalists during conflict.

“The enemy’s false claims are nothing but an expression of its weakness and fragility, and a desperate attempt to evade responsibility for this crime,” said Hezbollah in a Telegram statement.

Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araghchi accused Israel of conducting a “targeted assassination” to “silence the voices of truth-tellers.” This marks the second time Israel has faced accusations of targeting journalists in Lebanon since the US-Israel war against Iran began a month ago. On 18 March, Al Manar reported the deaths of presenter Mohammad Sherri and his wife during an Israeli strike in Beirut while they were sleeping.

Humanitarian Impact

The Committee to Protect Journalists highlighted Lebanon’s status as “an increasingly deadly zone for journalists,” noting a recurring pattern of Israel accusing media personnel of being combatants without credible evidence. “Journalists are not legitimate targets, regardless of the outlet they work for,” stated Sara Qudah, the organization’s regional director.

The Lebanese Ministry of Health reported over 1,100 civilian deaths, including 120 children and 42 paramedics, during the conflict. More than a million people have been displaced, worsening the country’s existing humanitarian crisis. Concerns are growing that Israel is using tactics similar to those in Gaza—targeting civilians, journalists, and paramedics—which the military denies.

Context of the Conflict

Israel and Hezbollah had agreed on a November 2024 ceasefire, intended to see both sides withdraw from southern Lebanon. Progress was made, but the agreement was partial. Israel retained military posts in the area and continued attacking Hezbollah targets, accusing the group of rearming and rebuilding. After the killing of Iran’s supreme leader, Hezbollah retaliated with rocket strikes on northern Israel, responding to both his death and ongoing Israeli operations since the ceasefire.