Beirut Tragedy: Reuters Videographer Killed, Journalists Injured in Israeli Shelling
In a tragic incident in southern Lebanon, a Reuters videographer lost his life while six other journalists were wounded after the area where they were reporting from was struck by Israeli shelling. The news was confirmed by two colleagues who spoke to the injured journalists in the hospital, as well as an eyewitness.
According to Charbel Francis, a cameraman for Al Araby TV, he was filming the Israeli shelling from a hill about 50 feet away from the other journalists when the strike occurred. He mentioned that there was no sign of fire from Lebanon, and everything was falling on the hill without any indication of fire launched from Lebanon.
Issam Abdallah, the videographer, was killed in the incident. Two other Reuters journalists, Thaer al-Sudani and Maher Nazeh, sustained injuries and are currently receiving medical care.
A Reuters spokesperson expressed deep sadness over Abdallah’s death and stated that he was part of a Reuters crew providing live coverage of skirmishes along the border in southern Lebanon. The statement did not specify who was responsible for the incident. Reuters later reported that Abdallah was hit by a missile fired from the direction of Israel while sitting on a low stone wall, and another missile hit a car being used by the group.
The Israeli military, represented by Lt. Col. Richard Hecht, expressed remorse for the journalist’s death and stated that they were unsure of responsibility, promising to carry out an investigation.
Other journalists from Al Jazeera and Agence France-Presse were also injured in the incident. Al Jazeera stated that the journalists had gathered in one area for safety. Videos and images from the scene showed reporters wearing blue bullet-resistant vests marked with “Press” for identification.
The incident occurred during an exchange of fire with Hezbollah, and the area had previously been targeted by Israeli strikes. Reporters Without Borders condemned the incident as a “heinous crime against journalists” and stated that they were continuing investigations into the circumstances.
Al Jazeera also reported that their broadcast vehicle was completely burned and held Israel responsible for the attack, calling on the international community to take action to ensure journalist safety.
The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) released a statement on social media, expressing deep sadness over the incident and urging for a halt in the escalation.
Issam Abdallah, a 37-year-old video journalist based in Beirut, had covered conflicts in Syria and Ukraine, as well as other major stories. Colleagues and friends mourned his loss on social media and held a vigil in Beirut.
The incident adds to the escalating tensions in the region, with fears mounting that the conflict could spread to Lebanon. UNIFIL emphasized the importance of halting the escalation to prevent further violence.
Abdallah’s last post on Instagram was a tribute to another journalist killed by the Israeli military, highlighting the risks journalists face in their line of work.
This tragic incident serves as a reminder of the dangers journalists face while reporting in conflict zones, and highlights the need for global attention and action to ensure their safety.
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