Alleged Israeli Strike on Reporters in Lebanon Takes Journalists’ Death Toll to 50
The war has led to the deadliest month for journalists since records began, according to a press watchdog.
Anwar Amro/AFP via Getty Images
Two reporters working for a TV station in Lebanon were killed along with a third person Tuesday in an airstrike which the Lebanese prime minister blamed on Israel.
Al Mayadeen, the channel which employed the journalists, said the strike about a mile from the Israeli border had deliberately targeted the TV crew owing to the channel’s pro-Palestinian sympathies and its support for Iran’s regional military alliance.
Broadcaster NBN Lebanon quoted Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati as saying: “This attack proves once again that there are no limits to Israeli crimes, and that its goal is to silence the media that exposes its crimes and attacks.”
Al Mayadeen named the journalists killed as Farah Omar, a correspondent, and camera operator Rabie al-Memari. The third person was identified as Hussein Aqil.
Al Mayadeen Director Ghassan bin Jiddo said the strike came after Israel decided to block access to the network’s website this month, according to Al Jazeera. Jiddo also said Aqil was a “contributor” to the channel, though the network told Reuters that he was not working with them.
In response to the attack, Hezbollah lawmaker Hassan Fadlallah said: “The crime against the Al Mayadeen team is intentional. The resistance will not tolerate harm to civilians and any harm to them will not go without a price, as part of the equation.”
Sign Up for Our Beast Digest Newsletter
By clicking “SUBSCRIBE” you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Lebanon’s National News Agency later reported that another Israeli air raid had killed four more people in a car in southern Lebanon on Tuesday. The strike allegedly occurred around seven miles from the Israeli border.
The war between Israel and Hamas—which has also seen significant cross-border violence between Israel and Hezbollah—has led to the deaths of at least 50 journalists and media workers since Oct. 7, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ). The media watchdog said the conflict produced the “deadliest month for journalists since CPJ began gathering data in 1992.”
See more of our coverage in your search results.
Got a tip? Send it to The Daily Beast here.
Register below to read this article for free or subscribe
to unlock unlimited access to The Daily Beast.
Monthly
$1
First month then $5.99/month
Annual
$35
First year then $59.99/year
Premium
$79
First year then $119.99/year
*Substack access provided by the next business day, using your subscription email. Choosing the Premium plan constitutes your permission to share your subscription email with Substack and your agreement to Substack’s Privacy Policy.
Already have an account? Sign In
Looks like you already have a subscription!
You're all set!
Thanks for subscribing.