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An Israeli airstrike on a vehicle carrying a media team near the city of Jezzine in southern Lebanon killed three people on Saturday: Al-Manar TV correspondent Ali Shuaib, Al-Mayadeen correspondent Fatima Fatouni, and her brother, a cameraman.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun condemned the attack as "a blatant crime" as the Israeli army confirmed the killing of Shuaib, describing him as "a member of Hezbollah's Radwan Force intelligence unit who operated under the guise of a journalist."
Lebanon's National News Agency said an Israeli airstrike targeted a vehicle on the Al-Barad road in Jezzine.
Three journalists were killed, Türkiye's state-run Anadolu Agency (AA) correspondent reported from the scene.
Al-Mayadeen and Al-Manar confirmed the deaths of their journalists. Fatouni's brother, who served as a cameraman, was also killed in the strike. Four fatalities in total were reported by Lebanon's NNA, including two additional civilians.
The Israeli military confirmed it targeted and killed Ali Shuaib but did not comment on the deaths of the other journalists.
The Israeli army spokesman Avichay Adraee stated on X that Shuaib "operated within the Hezbollah terrorist organization under the guise of a journalist for the Al Manar network while operating systematically to expose the locations of Israeli army soldiers operating in southern Lebanon and along the border line."
The Israeli army claimed Shuaib maintained "continuous contact with additional terrorists, both within the Radwan Force specifically and across the broader Hezbollah terrorist organization" and allegedly used his platform to disseminate Hezbollah propaganda and incite against Israeli troops and Israeli civilians.
The Israeli army lastly said it will "continue to operate forcefully against Hezbollah."
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun condemned the strike in a statement from the presidency.
"Once again, the Israeli aggression violates the most basic rules of international law, international humanitarian law, and the laws of war by targeting journalists, who are ultimately civilians performing a professional duty," the statement noted.
"This is a blatant crime that violates all the norms and treaties under which journalists enjoy international protection in wars," Aoun said.
He extended condolences to the families of the journalists and to the Lebanese media community and called on international bodies "to act to stop what is happening on our land."
The Israeli offensive against Lebanon, which began on March 2, has now resulted in 1,142 deaths and 3,315 injuries, according to the Lebanese Ministry of Health.
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