The Israeli military has stated that an airstrike which resulted in the deaths of three journalists in southern Lebanon is currently “under review”, asserting that the operation targeted Hezbollah militants.
“Earlier today, based on intelligence information, the IDF (Israel Defense Forces) struck a Hezbollah military installation in Hasbaya, southern Lebanon,” the military mentioned in an announcement to AFP.
“The strike was conducted while the terrorists were present inside the facility,” it continued.
“Several hours following the strike, reports emerged indicating that journalists had been affected during the operation. The incident is under review.”
In a related incident, Hezbollah killed two individuals in northern Israel as violence escalated in Gaza, prompting the US to seek a resolution to the conflict.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken remarked on the pressing need for a diplomatic resolution, following his previous statement that the US does not wish to see a prolonged campaign in Lebanon by its ally Israel.
Israel commenced its extensive offensive in Lebanon a month ago, asserting that it aims to target the Hezbollah group in order to facilitate the safe return of tens of thousands of Israelis who were evacuated from the north due to cross-border rocket attacks.
Emergency responders navigate through the debris of buildings in Hasbaya following the Israeli strike.
Lebanese officials reported that Israel’s offensive has resulted in over 2,500 deaths and displaced more than 1.2 million people, leading to a humanitarian crisis.
Hezbollah intensified its rocket assaults after the 7 October 2023 attack on Israel triggered the current war in Gaza, where Palestinian officials stated that Israeli strikes have resulted in at least 72 fatalities since the previous night.
In northern Gaza, a representative from the World Health Organization described the scene as “mayhem and chaos” following an Israeli raid on the Kamal Adwan hospital.
The strike that led to two fatalities in Majd al-Krum, as reported by Israeli media, came after Hezbollah announced it had targeted the northern Israeli town of Karmiel with a substantial missile barrage.
The strikes marked the deadliest day for media workers amid a year of hostilities.
“The world must act to stop Iran now – before it’s too late,” declared Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz on X, formerly known as Twitter.
The journalists who were killed while staying in guesthouses overnight in southern Lebanon included Ghassan Najjar and Mohamed Reda from the news outlet Al-Mayadeen, and Wissam Qassem, who worked for Hezbollah’s Al-Manar, as stated by the outlets in separate announcements. Several others sustained injuries.
Five journalists had previously lost their lives in Israeli strikes while covering the conflict, including Reuters visual journalist Issam Abdallah on 13 October 2023.
“This constitutes a war crime,” said Lebanese Information Minister Ziad Makary.
At least 18 journalists from six media organizations, including Sky News and Al-Jazeera, were using the guesthouses at the time.
“We heard the aircraft flying very low – that’s what woke us up – and then we heard two missiles,” recounted Muhammad Farhat, a reporter with Lebanese broadcaster Al-Jadeed.
His footage depicted overturned and damaged vehicles, some of which were labeled “Press”.
Commenting on the strike via a post on X, formerly Twitter, UN special rapporteur on freedom of opinion and expression Irene Khan stated: “The deliberate killing of a journalist is a war crime.”
Israel, which denies any intent to target journalists, did not promptly respond to requests for comments.
UNIFIL reported that ‘shells or rockets’ inflicted damage on ‘living accommodations and shelters’ (Pic: UNIFIL).
The UN peacekeeping force in Lebanon, UNIFIL, announced that Israeli forces had opened fire on their troops stationed at an observation post in southern Dhayra on Tuesday.
Israel has refuted claims of purposely targeting the force, asserting that Hezbollah has established strongholds near UNIFIL locations.
Israel’s prior strikes on UNIFIL positions have drawn international condemnation.
As for border crossings, Israel has employed airstrikes to heavily bombard southern Lebanon, the Bekaa Valley, and southern suburbs of Beirut, in addition to deploying ground forces into southern Lebanon against Hezbollah.
The military reported that it struck weapon production facilities and Hezbollah’s intelligence headquarters in Beirut, as well as Hezbollah targets near the Jousieh border crossing in the northern Bekaa Valley.
UNIFIL indicated three instances of unidentified fire impacting its positions this week (Pic: UNIFIL).
They alleged that Hezbollah utilized the crossing, managed by the Syrian military, for the transfer of arms into Lebanon.
The Lebanese government announced that the strikes had rendered the crossing inoperable, leaving the northern route as the sole passage to Syria, where the UN refugee agency stated that approximately 430,000 individuals have fled since Israel’s military operations began.
“The attacks on border crossings are an urgent concern,” stated UNHCR spokesperson Rula Amin. “They obstruct the path to safety for those escaping conflict.”
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‘Genuine urgency’
Mr. Blinken stated that it is crucial for people on either side of the Lebanon-Israel border to be able to return to their homes.
“We feel an authentic urgency to reach a diplomatic resolution and ensure the complete implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701, so that there can be substantial security along the border between Israel and Lebanon,” Mr. Blinken announced in London.
Despite significant setbacks, including the death of its leader Hassan Nasrallah, Hezbollah has maintained its combat operations. Israel has reported the deaths of ten of its soldiers over the last two days.
The Israeli military announced the discovery of an underground command center in a village near the border with Israel, along with a location concealed in wooded areas where Kornet anti-tank missiles, launchers, hand grenades, and rifles were stored.
The US has expressed hope that the death of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, who was a key architect of the 7 October attacks, might act as a catalyst for ending hostilities, which several top Israeli army officials have echoed.
Two Egyptian security sources reported that a delegation led by the head of Israel’s Mossad intelligence agency was briefed by officials in Egypt regarding their discussions with Hamas and its conditions for a ceasefire and the release of hostages in Gaza.
Israel has announced that Mossad chief David Barnea is scheduled to meet with CIA Director William Burns and the Qatari Prime Minister in Doha this Sunday.
Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi, who conferred with Blinken in London, asserted that “ethnic cleansing” is occurring in northern Gaza.
Israel refutes such allegations, contending that it is working to separate civilians from Hamas militants and moving them to safer territories.
Mr. Safadi declared: “We have reached a point where nothing can justify the ongoing wars. The guns must fall silent.”
