Israeli strike kills journalists Lebanon as Beirut condemns attack as war crime amid intensifying cross-border conflict

An Israeli military strike killed three journalists in southern Lebanon on Saturday, as Lebanese President Joseph Aoun condemned the incident as a “blatant crime” and a serious violation of international law.

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The Israeli military confirmed that one of those killed was Ali Shoeib, a prominent correspondent for Hezbollah’s Al Manar television network, alleging that he operated within the group under the cover of journalism.

A Lebanese military source said Shoeib was killed in the town of Jezzine alongside Fatima Ftouni, a journalist with Al Mayadeen, and her brother, who worked as a cameraman. Both media organisations later confirmed the deaths.

The attack comes amid intensifying hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah, which escalated after the Iran-backed group launched rockets into Israel on March 2.

The move followed the killing of Iran’s supreme leader at the outset of a broader US-Israeli military campaign against Tehran.

Israel has since carried out extensive airstrikes and ground operations across southern Lebanon. Lebanese authorities report that at least 1,189 people have been killed since the conflict began.

In a statement, the Israeli military said it had specifically targeted Shoeib, accusing him of gathering intelligence on Israeli troop positions along the border.

It added that more than 800 Hezbollah members had been killed since the escalation of the conflict.

Lebanese officials reacted sharply. President Aoun described the killings as a grave breach of protections afforded to journalists in conflict zones, while Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said the strike represented a “flagrant violation” of international humanitarian law.

Information Minister Paul Morcos went further, stating that the attack could be classified as a war crime under international conventions.

The deaths highlight a troubling pattern of journalists being caught in the crossfire. Earlier this month, a separate strike in Beirut killed Mohammad Sherri, a senior figure at Al Manar.

During previous clashes between 2023 and 2024, multiple journalists were killed or injured while covering hostilities near the Israeli border.

Among them was Reuters journalist Issam Abdallah, whose death in October 2023 drew international scrutiny. An independent investigation later found that tank shells fired from inside Israel had struck the group of reporters.

Saturday’s violence extended beyond media casualties. Lebanon’s Health Minister Rakan Nassereddine said Israeli strikes in the south also killed nine paramedics, including emergency responders affiliated with Hezbollah and the Amal movement.

The Lebanese army separately confirmed the death of one of its soldiers in an airstrike in Deir Zahrani, while state media reported widespread damage to residential buildings, commercial structures and infrastructure in towns across the state.

In Henniyeh, a strike killed seven civilians, including six Syrians, and injured nine others, according to the health ministry.

Israel said its operations were continuing to target Hezbollah infrastructure, while the group claimed it had launched retaliatory attacks on Israeli troop positions near the border.

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The Israeli strike kills journalists Lebanon incident marks a grim escalation in a conflict already defined by heavy casualties and growing international concern, as calls mount for accountability and protection of civilians and media workers.