Israeli Airstrike in Southern Lebanon Kills Three Journalists

An Israeli airstrike in southern Lebanon on Saturday resulted in the deaths of three journalists, as reported by their respective television stations. The victims were Ali Shoeib, a veteran correspondent for Hezbollah's al-Manar TV, and siblings Fatima and Mohammed Ftouni from Al-Mayadeen TV. The strike occurred in the Jezzine district, shortly after Fatima Ftouni had delivered a live report from the area.

The Israeli military acknowledged targeting Shoeib, alleging he was a Hezbollah intelligence operative, but did not provide supporting evidence. The military's statement did not address the deaths of the Ftouni siblings.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun condemned the attack, describing it as a "flagrant crime that violates all laws and agreements that protect journalists." Al-Manar TV praised Shoeib's nearly three decades of professional reporting in southern Lebanon and dismissed the Israeli allegations.

This incident follows a series of Israeli strikes on Hezbollah-affiliated media outlets, including previous attacks on Al-Manar's headquarters and the recent killing of another Al-Manar official and his wife in Beirut. The Committee to Protect Journalists reported that freelance photojournalist Hussain Hamood was also killed earlier this week in southern Lebanon, bringing the total number of journalists killed in the country this year to five.