Israeli Airstrike Kills Seven in Southern Lebanon

An Israeli airstrike in southern Lebanon killed seven people, according to reports by Lebanese state media cited by AP News.

Casualties and Incidents in Southern Lebanon

The weekend bombardment in southern Lebanon resulted in multiple casualties, including three journalists and several paramedics, as reported by PBS News. Among those killed were photojournalist Mohamad Ftouni, his sister and fellow journalist Fatima Ftouni, and Ali Hassan Shaib, who worked for Al-Manar TV.

According to reporting shared by PBS News, Fatima Ftouni was killed after surviving an initial strike and attempting to escape her targeted vehicle. Footage showed her trying to flee before a subsequent strike hit. Three hours prior to her death, Fatima recorded a video at the site of a previous strike, noting that journalists carry only microphones and press vests.

Military Statements and Press Freedom Concerns

The Israel Defense Forces released a statement regarding Ali Hassan Shaib, identifying him as a terrorist in the intelligence unit of Hezbollah’s Radwan Force, as noted by PBS News. The Israeli military accused him of aiding Hezbollah while working as a journalist and officially joining the group’s military wing in 2020.

It is not a secret that Al-Manar TV is affiliated to Hezbollah and owned by Hezbollah. But that does not make journalists who work with this media outlet or the TV station terrorists or in any way providing intelligence secrets. They are still civilians.

Sara Qudah, Committee to Protect Journalists

Sara Qudah, the Middle East and North Africa regional director for the Committee to Protect Journalists, stated that the Israel Defense Forces did not provide any evidence that Shaib or the other two journalists participated in military action. Under international military law, journalists are designated as civilians and protected from attacks unless they actively participate in a conflict.

Regarding the death of Fatima Ftouni, the Israeli military stated that The IDF directs its strikes to target terrorists and not journalists, and is operating to mitigate harm to civilians as much as possible, according to PBS News. The Committee to Protect Journalists contends that the killings reflect a broader pattern observed in Gaza since 2023, where journalists are killed and subsequently accused of militant ties.