Three Lebanese journalists killed in Israeli air strike

Three Lebanese journalists have been killed in an Israeli air strike on their clearly marked press vehicle in southern Lebanon.

Al Jazeera reports that other journalists were wounded in the attack, and one paramedic was also killed.

Fatima Ftouni and her brother and colleague, Mohammed—both working for the channel Al Mayadeen—as well as journalist Ali Shuaib of Al-Manar were killed on Saturday on Jezzine Road when, according to Al Mayadeen, four precision missiles struck their vehicle.

When ambulances arrived at the scene, paramedics were reportedly targeted as well, resulting in one fatality. Both Al Mayadeen and Al-Manar confirmed the deaths.

The Israeli military acknowledged carrying out the strike, claiming Shuaib had been embedded within a Hezbollah intelligence unit and was tracking troop positions in southern Lebanon. It also alleged he had been distributing Hezbollah propaganda.

Al-Manar described Shuaib as one of its most prominent war correspondents, having covered Israeli attacks on Lebanon for decades.

Israel, which has killed more than 270 journalists in Gaza, frequently alleges that the reporters it targets are members of or linked to armed groups, often without providing evidence.

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Neither Al Mayadeen nor Al-Manar accepted Israel’s characterisation.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said Israel had once again violated “the most basic rules of international law” by targeting civilians carrying out their professional duties.

He condemned the strike as “a blatant crime that violates all norms and treaties under which journalists are granted international protection during armed conflicts.”

Prime Minister Nawaf Salam also denounced the attack, calling it “a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law.”

Reporting from Tyre in southern Lebanon, Al Jazeera correspondent Obaida Hitto said: “All the journalists that I’m speaking to here today say that they were just doing their job, and that the journalists that are still here are going to continue to carry out their work despite the obvious dangers.”

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