In a shocking and devastating attack, three journalists from Hezbollah-affiliated TV stations Al Mayadeen and Al-Manar were killed, and several others wounded, when an Israeli airstrike hit their press station in Hasbaya, southern Lebanon, early on Friday morning. The strikes targeted a group of small chalets that were being used by at least seven different media outlets, including Al Jazeera, Sky News Arabia, and TRT, to cover the ongoing Israel-Hezbollah war in the region.
The attack has sparked outrage and condemnation from Lebanese officials and press freedom advocates, who are calling it a blatant war crime. Under international humanitarian law, journalists are considered civilians and deliberately targeting them is a grave violation. This incident is just the latest in a string of journalist casualties in the Israel-Lebanon conflict, with at least 12 journalists killed by Israeli forces since fighting began in October 2023.
A Chilling Effect on Press Freedoms
The attack occurred around 3:30 am local time, while the journalists were sleeping in their chalets. According to eyewitness accounts, the strike specifically targeted the chalet housing the Al Mayadeen and Al-Manar journalists, despite several cars with clear “Press” markings parked in front of the site.
“The airstrike happened while we were sleeping. I don’t remember hearing the sound of the explosion, I heard the sound of the rocket. I came out and found the chalet had fallen on the [journalists],” said Darine El Helwe, a senior correspondent with Sky News Arabia who was present at the time of the strike.
– Darine El Helwe, Sky News Arabia correspondent
El Helwe noted that the group of journalists had been using Hasbaya as a base for the past month, relocating there after their previous residence in the south became unsafe due to intensifying Israeli bombing. Hasbaya, which is not affiliated with Hezbollah, had largely been spared by Israeli strikes and was considered a relatively safe area for journalists to operate from.
The specific targeting of the Al Mayadeen and Al-Manar chalet, coupled with the recent strike on Al Mayadeen’s Beirut office and the killing of two of its journalists last year, has raised serious concerns about the safety of journalists covering the conflict, particularly those associated with Hezbollah-linked media. Many fear that this attack will have a chilling effect on press freedoms in the region, as journalists may now be hesitant to report from areas previously considered safe.
Accusations of War Crimes and Calls for Accountability
The killing of the three journalists has been widely condemned as a war crime, with Lebanon’s Minister of Information, Ziad Makary, leading the charge in calling for accountability. International human rights organizations and media outlets have also launched investigations into the incident, with many concluding that the attack on the journalists was deliberate and targeted.
The Committee to Protect Journalists has reported that at least 125 journalists have been killed in Israel’s war in Gaza over the past year, highlighting the grave dangers faced by media professionals in conflict zones. Just days before the Hasbaya attack, Israel accused six Al Jazeera journalists in Gaza of being members of Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad, allegations the network vehemently denies.
“It was the only region that still would transmit pictures of airstrikes, targeting and skirmishes. I guess Israel doesn’t want these pictures to come out any more. If they wanted to target a team from the journalists, they could have targeted them on the road because they know the cars. But to target us at night while we’re sleeping?”
– Darine El Helwe, Sky News Arabia correspondent
The targeting of journalists, whether based on their affiliations or in an attempt to suppress reporting, is a disturbing trend that threatens to undermine press freedoms and the public’s right to information in conflict zones. As the international community grapples with the fallout from this latest attack, calls for accountability and the protection of journalists are growing louder.
The Human Cost of War: Remembering the Fallen
Amidst the geopolitical tensions and legal debates, it is crucial to remember the human lives lost in this tragic incident. Wissam Qassem, a camera operator with Al-Manar, and Al Mayadeen’s Ghassan Najjar, a correspondent, and Mohammad Reda, a technician, were all killed in the strike, leaving behind grieving families, friends, and colleagues.
These journalists, like so many others who have lost their lives while reporting from conflict zones, were committed to bringing the truth to light and informing the public about the realities on the ground. Their deaths are a sobering reminder of the immense risks and sacrifices that journalists face in their pursuit of the truth.
As the world mourns their loss and demands justice, it is vital that we honor their memory by redoubling our efforts to protect journalists, defend press freedoms, and work towards peaceful resolutions to conflicts that continue to claim innocent lives. Only by safeguarding the rights of journalists to report freely and safely can we hope to build a more informed, empathetic, and peaceful world.
