Israeli military reviewing strike that killed 3 journalists in southern Lebanon

 

A still from a video obtained by CNN shows aftermath a strike on a guesthouse in Hasbaiya that killed three journalists. 

Obtained by CNN

The Israeli military is reviewing an overnight airstrike that killed three journalists in Lebanon after the deadly incident drew outrage from the Lebanese government and press freedom groups.

In a statement sent to CNN, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said earlier on Friday it struck a Hezbollah military structure in the town of Hasbaiya where it claimed Hezbollah militants “were operating.”

The IDF said the strike was conducted while the Hezbollah members were “inside the structure.” Several hours later “reports were received that journalists had been hit during the strike,” it wrote, adding that “the incident is under review.”

Footage geolocated by CNN showed that the IDF strike targeted a guesthouse in Hasbaiya. In the video, a blue press helmet and a vest could be seen among the rubble of a damaged building.

Two of the journalists killed worked for Lebanon-based TV channel Al-Mayadeen, while the third was a journalist for the Hezbollah-affiliated Al-Manar TV, according to the Lebanese state-run news agency, NNA.

Reaction: The attack was condemned by a host of Lebanese officials including Information Minister Ziad Makary who described it as a “deliberate assassination” in a post on X Friday. The country’s Prime Minister Najib Mikati called the attack a “deliberate attempt” to intimidate journalists trying to cover the conflict between Israel and Lebanon.

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) also issued a statement “strongly condemning” the attack, calling on the international community to urgently address Israel’s “long-standing pattern of impunity” when it comes to the killing of journalists.