Israeli Strike in Southern Lebanon Claims Lives of Three Journalists Covering Conflict

An Israeli airstrike on southern Lebanon on Saturday has killed three journalists who were reporting on the ongoing Israel-Hezbollah war, according to their respective television stations.

Hezbollah’s al-Manar TV confirmed that its longtime correspondent, Ali Shoeib, was among those killed in the strike in southern Lebanon.
In response, the Israeli military said it had targeted Shoeib, alleging that he was a Hezbollah intelligence operative, although no evidence was provided to support the claim.
Shoeib, a prominent Lebanese war correspondent, had reported extensively from southern Lebanon for al-Manar TV for nearly 30 years.
Meanwhile, Beirut-based pan-Arab Al-Mayadeen TV reported that its journalist, Fatima Ftouni, was also killed in the same airstrike in the southern district of Jezzine, alongside her brother Mohammed, a video journalist. She had just concluded a live broadcast moments before the attack.
Senior Lebanese officials condemned the incident, with President Joseph Aoun describing it as a “flagrant crime” that breaches all laws and agreements designed to protect journalists.
The Israeli military further claimed that Shoeib had been systematically revealing the positions of Israeli troops operating in southern Lebanon. It also accused him of maintaining ties with Hezbollah fighters and inciting actions against Israeli soldiers and civilians, without offering additional details.
Al-Manar TV has not responded to the allegations but praised Shoeib as a journalist known for his professionalism and credible reporting.
Israel’s claims echo previous accusations it has made against Palestinian journalists during its war with Hamas in Gaza, where it alleged that some reporters were militants posing as media workers.
The Israeli military statement did not mention the other two journalists killed in the strike.
Since the latest Israel-Hezbollah conflict began on March 2, Israeli airstrikes have targeted Hezbollah-linked civilian infrastructure, including the headquarters of al-Manar TV and the group’s Al-Nour radio station.
The latest attack follows an earlier airstrike in central Beirut that killed Mohammed Sherri, head of political programmes at al-Manar TV, along with his wife.
With these recent casualties, the number of journalists and media workers killed in Lebanon this year has risen to five.
In a related development, Hezbollah reportedly launched around 250 projectiles from Lebanon within the past 24 hours, according to an Israeli military official who spoke anonymously in line with military guidelines. Most of the projectiles were said to be directed at Israeli troops in southern Lebanon, with only 23 crossing into Israeli territory.
Death toll rises
Lebanon’s Health Ministry reported that 47 people were killed and 112 injured in the past 24 hours, bringing the total number of deaths since March 2 to 1,189.
Health Minister Rakan Nassereddine stated that nine paramedics were killed in Israeli strikes on Saturday, increasing the total number of health workers killed to 51.
The Israeli military also reported that nine of its soldiers were wounded in two separate attacks in southern Lebanon.
(AP)