Three journalists killed in Israeli strikes

At least three journalists were murdered and numerous others were injured in an Israeli hit early Friday morning while they were sleeping in media guesthouses in Hasbaya, southern Lebanon, according to local media and Lebanon’s health ministry.
According to independent statements from the pro-Iranian news organization Al-Mayadeen, camera operator Ghassan Najjar and engineer Mohamed Reda were killed, as was camera operator Wissam Qassem, who was employed by Hezbollah’s Al-Manar.In a year of fighting between the Israeli military and the Hezbollah movement in Lebanon, the strikes made it the bloodiest day for the media.
Israel, which often denies intentionally targeting journalists, did not immediately respond.

In a year of fighting between the Israeli military and the Hezbollah movement in Lebanon, the strikes made it the bloodiest day for the media.
Israel, which often denies intentionally targeting journalists, did not immediately respond.The town of Hasbaya is home to both Christians and Muslims. Attacks on its outskirts have occurred in recent weeks, but the one that occurred on the town itself on Friday at approximately 3 a.m. (midnight GMT) was the first.

“This is a war crime,” Lebanese Information Minister Ziad Makary said. At least 18 journalists from six media outlets, including Sky News, Al-Jazeera and Lebanese broadcasters, were staying at the guesthouses. “We heard the airplane flying very low – that’s what woke us up – and then we heard the two missiles,” Muhammad Farhat, a reporter with the Lebanese outlet Al-Jadeed, told the media.  He said several bungalows had been damaged. His footage showed overturned and damaged cars, some marked “Press”.

“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.

Ghassan bin Jiddo, the director of Al-Mayadeen, said on the channel’s X account that the attack was “deliberate”.

“We hold the occupation (Israel) fully responsible for this war crime, in which journalist crews including the Al-Mayadeen team were targeted,” bin Jiddo said.