Three Lebanese journalists were killed in a targeted Israeli airstrike in southern Lebanon on Saturday, marking the latest casualties among media workers covering the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hezbollah.
The strike hit the journalists' vehicle in the town of Jezzine just before noon local time. Among the victims were Ali Shoeib, a veteran correspondent for Hezbollah-affiliated Al Manar TV, alongside Fatima Ftouni, a reporter for Al Mayadeen, and her brother Mohamed Ftouni, who worked as a cameraman for the same channel.
The Israel Defense Forces confirmed targeting Shoeib specifically, describing him as a member of Hezbollah's elite Radwan Force intelligence unit who operated under journalistic cover. Israeli military officials accused him of systematically exposing IDF troop positions in southern Lebanon and disseminating propaganda materials, though they provided no evidence to support these claims.
brazen crime
Joseph Aoun, Lebanese President
flagrant violation of international humanitarian law and a clear breach of the rules that guarantee the protection of journalists in times of war
Nawaf Salam, Lebanese Prime Minister
The IDF statement made no mention of the two Al Mayadeen journalists killed in the same strike. Shoeib had been one of Al Manar's most prominent war correspondents, covering Israeli attacks on Lebanon for nearly three decades.
This incident represents the second time Israel has been accused of deliberately targeting journalists in Lebanon since the current conflict began following Iran's supreme leader's death. In March, Al Manar presenter Mohammad Sherri and his wife were killed in an Israeli strike on Beirut while sleeping.
The targeting of media workers has become a concerning pattern in the region. During the previous Israel-Hezbollah conflict in 2023-2024, multiple journalists were killed, including three reporters in October 2024 and three Al Mayadeen staff members in November 2023.
The current conflict escalated after Hezbollah fired rockets into northern Israel on March 2, retaliating for the killing of Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in a US-Israeli operation. Israel has responded with extensive airstrikes across Lebanon and a ground offensive in the south.
According to Lebanese Ministry of Health figures, more than 1,100 civilians have been killed during the conflict, including 120 children and 42 paramedics. Over one million people have been displaced, exacerbating Lebanon's existing humanitarian crisis.
International observers have raised concerns that Israel may be employing tactics similar to those used in Gaza, including the deliberate targeting of civilians, journalists, and medical personnel. Israel denies these allegations but continues to justify strikes against what it claims are legitimate military targets.