HAZARD. One journalist was killed and six others were wounded in Israel shelling in Lebanon. Death and injuries of reporters during war and conflicts is a reminder of the dangers of journalism, says an official of the US government. (Anadolu)
ANKARA – At least one journalist was killed and two others were injured in an Israeli shelling in southern Lebanon, according to media reports.
Reuters has confirmed that its videographer, Issam Abdallah, was killed while working in southern Lebanon.
In a statement, Reuters said: "We are deeply saddened to learn that our videographer, Issam Abdallah, has been killed.”
“Issam was part of a Reuters crew in southern Lebanon who was providing a live video signal,” it added.
Reuters also stated that it is “urgently seeking more information, working with authorities in the region, and supporting Issam's family and colleagues.”
It also said that two of its journalists, Thaer Al-Sudani and Maher Nazeh, were also wounded in the shelling in the border area.
Meanwhile, the Lebanese official news agency reported that “colleagues from the Al Jazeera team, Carmen Joukhadar and Eli Brakhia, were injured in the town of Alma el-Chaab, as a result of Israeli forces targeting their car.”
Agence France-Presse news agency said two of its reporters were also among those injured.
The development came as Israel remains on high alert along its northern border against the Hezbollah group in Lebanon, while the Israel-Palestine conflict rages in the besieged Gaza Strip.
The conflict escalated into a humanitarian crisis on Oct. 7 when the Palestinian Hamas group’s armed wing, the Al-Qassam Brigades, launched Operation Al-Aqsa Flood against Israel, a multi-pronged surprise attack that included a barrage of rocket launches and infiltrations into Israel via land, sea and air.
Hamas said the operation was in retaliation for the storming of Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem and Israeli settlers’ growing violence against Palestinians.
The Israeli military then launched Operation Swords of Iron against Hamas targets within the Gaza Strip.
Israel's response has extended to cutting water and electricity supplies to Gaza, further worsening living conditions in an area that has reeled under a crippling siege since 2007.
As the conflict intensifies in Gaza, tensions have risen along Israel's border with Lebanon. (Anadolu)
