Israeli strike on journalist compound in Lebanon kills 3 TV staffers
Lebanon’s information minister calls death of journalists in southern Lebanon an ‘assassination’
An Israeli air strike on a compound housing journalists in southeast Lebanon killed three media staffers early Friday, their networks and Lebanon’s state-run news agency said.
Local news station Al Jadeed aired footage from the scene – a collection of chalets that had been rented by various media outlets – showing collapsed buildings and cars marked “PRESS”, covered in dust and rubble. The Israeli army did not issue a warning prior to the strike.
The Beirut-based pan-Arab Al-Mayadeen TV said two of its staffers – camera operator Ghassan Najar and broadcast technician Mohammed Rida – were among the journalists killed early Friday. Al-Manar TV of Lebanon’s Hezbollah group said its camera operator Wissam Qassim was also killed in the air strike on the Hasbaya region.
Al-Mayadeen’s director Ghassan bin Jiddo alleged that the Israeli strike on a compound housing journalists was intentional and directed at those covering elements of its military offensive. He vowed that the Beirut-based station would continue its work.
Lebanon’s Information Minister Ziad Makary said the journalists were killed while broadcasting what he called Israel’s “crimes”, and noted they were among a large group of members of the media.
