Journalists from Reuters and Al Jazeera Targeted in Lebanon Strike

Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has claimed that a deliberate targeting of journalists occurred in a recent strike near the Israel-Lebanon border. A Reuters journalist, Issam Abdallah, 37, was killed while covering the conflict between Israel's military and Hezbollah in southern Lebanon on October 13. Alongside him, six other media workers were injured in the attacks. Among the wounded were Al Jazeera cameraperson Elie Brakhia and reporter Carmen Joukhadar, who were struck by two rounds of munitions in the village of Alma al-Shaab.

RSF, in a statement released on Sunday, stated that two strikes, occurring within just over 30 seconds of each other and from the same direction, indicate precise targeting. The organization based this conclusion on video footage and ballistic analysis. RSF also emphasized that the journalists were unlikely to be mistaken for combatants. They had been in the open for over an hour, atop a hill, wearing helmets and bullet-proof vests marked as 'press.' Furthermore, their vehicle was clearly identified as 'press' with markings on the roof, as confirmed by witnesses.

While RSF did not explicitly attribute responsibility to Israel, they noted that journalists observed Israeli military helicopters near the scene, and the strikes originated from the direction of the Israeli border. The Al Jazeera Media Network accused Israel's military of intentionally targeting journalists to silence the media and condemned these attacks as part of a pattern of "repeated atrocities" against journalists.

As of now, the Israeli army has not issued an immediate response to requests for comment. Although they have not admitted responsibility for the attacks, an Israeli military spokesperson previously expressed regret over Issam Abdallah's death and stated that they were investigating the incident.

Tragically, last week, the family of Wael Dahdouh, Al Jazeera Arabic's bureau chief in Gaza, was killed in an Israeli airstrike on the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza. The Al Jazeera Media Network issued a statement condemning the "indiscriminate targeting and killing of innocent civilians in Gaza."

This incident follows a similar case earlier this year when Israeli officials apologized for the death of Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh, acknowledging a "high possibility" that she had been hit by an Israeli soldier's bullet. Israel, however, declined to pursue charges against any individual in connection with the veteran Palestinian-American reporter's death.

The ongoing violence in the region has had a devastating impact on journalists. At least 34 Palestinian journalists have lost their lives in Israeli air attacks since the Hamas's October 7 attacks on Israel, according to the health ministry in the Hamas-governed Gaza Strip. Additionally, the International Federation of Journalists reported that at least four Israeli journalists were killed, and one retired journalist was captured during Hamas's surprise attack on communities in southern Israel.