Ambulances carrying the bodies of two journalists from Al-Mayadeen stopped a quarter of an hour at the chain's seat in Beirut before leaving. (Credit: Mohammad Yassine/LOJ)
Two journalists from the pan-Arab channel al-Mayadeen and their civilian companion were killed Tuesday morning in an Israeli bombardment in the border sector of Tayr Harfa, in the district of Sour, along with six other people in Kfar Kila, in the district of Marjeyoun.
Al-Mayadeen, a network known for its pro-Iranian and pro-Hezbollah stances, confirmed the deaths of its field correspondent Farah Omar, 25, and reporter Rabih Maamari, 39, stating that they were "deliberately targeted in Southern Lebanon." The official National News Agency (NNA) added that Hussein Akil, a civilian accompanying the journalists, was also killed in the strike.
According to several media outlets contacted by L'Orient-le Jour, Akil was a member of Hezbollah often tasked with accompanying teams of journalists during filming and reporting in South Lebanon. Hezbollah's press office denied this claim to L'Orient Today.
Ghassan Ben Jeddo, CEO of al-Mayadeen, contended that the team was "deliberately targeted; it wasn't accidental," and disclosed that Akil was also a "contributor" to the outlet.
"This attack proves once more that there are no limits to Israeli crimes, aiming to silence media that exposes their crimes and attacks," said Lebanon's caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati.
Prominent political leaders, including Amal Movement's Ali Hassan Khalil and Marada Marada party leader Sleiman Frangieh, condemned the Israeli aggression.
Joseph Kosseifi, head of the Lebanese Press Editors' Syndicate, called for Israel to be "prosecuted for its crimes" in international court.
According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, over 50 journalists have been slain by Israeli forces since the war between Israel and Hamas began on Oct. 7. On Oct. 13, Reuters journalist Issam Abdallah was killed in a similar bombing that injured six other journalists from agencies including AFP, Reuters, and Al Jazeera. A month later, Israeli fire wounded an Al Jazeera cameraman while covering bombarding in South Lebanon with other press correspondents.
The bodies of Farah Omar and Rabih Maamari were transported to Jabal Amel Hospital in Sour before being moved to al-Mayadeen's headquarters in Beirut. L'Orient Today's photographers reported ambulances at the scene.
Laiqa Sarhan, 80, was reported killed by an Israeli strike in Kfar Kila, Marjayoun, earlier in the day on Tuesday, according to the NNA. Her 7-year-old granddaughter is in critical condition in a local hospital.
The Lebanese Civil Defense reported that five other victims were killed in the targeted vehicle by "two missiles." According to Hamas, all the people inside the vehicle were members of the militant group.
Since the Israel-Hamas war began, clashes have resulted in at least 92 deaths in Lebanon, primarily Hezbollah fighters.