3:50 PM ET, October 13, 2023
Reuters reporter killed, others injured in shelling in southern Lebanon, news agency says
From CNN’s Tamara Kibrawy, Sara El Shirgany, Anneclair Stapleton and Gianluca Mezzofiore
Reuters reporter Issam Abdallah takes a selfie while on duty in Maras, Turkey, on February 11. Abdallah was killed in southern Lebanon on Friday, the news agency said in a statement.
Issam Abdallah/Reuters
Reuters videographer Issam Abdallah was killed on Friday near the Israeli border in southern Lebanon, the news agency said in a statement.
“We are deeply saddened to learn that our videographer Issam Abdallah has been killed. Issam was part of a Reuters team providing live signals in southern Lebanon. “We are seeking further information, working with local authorities and providing support to Isamu’s family and colleagues,” Reuters said.
A Lebanese security official told CNN that Israeli Apache helicopters were seen over the attack site.
The Israel Defense Forces did not immediately respond to CNN’s request for comment.
At least six other reporters were injured in the same shelling, including two from Reuters, as well as reporters from Al Jazeera and Agence France-Presse. According to the video, Abdallah and a group of injured journalists were wearing jackets with press labels at the time of the attack.
The injured Al Jazeera journalists were Carmen Jukadar and Elie Barakiya, while the other Reuters reporters were Taal Al Sudani and Maher Nazeh. AFP has not released the names of the two injured journalists.
Hezbollah’s response: The media relations arm of the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, designated a terrorist organization by the United States, issued a statement condemning the “targeting” of the affected journalists and offering condolences to the media and their families. did.
“We pray to God for the speedy recovery of the injured. We pray that all media, humanitarian and legal institutions condemn the Zionist aggression against Lebanon and condemn the so-called murderers, criminals and invaders. We demand that we denounce the blind prejudice of the free world.”
Separately, Lebanese Prime Minister-designate Najib Mikati also issued a statement condemning the attack on journalists.
Hezbollah has made clear its support for Palestinian militants. He sponsored rallies in support of Palestinian groups and harshly condemned Israel’s massive bombing of Gaza.
It remains unclear whether Hezbollah will actively participate in the conflict. The United States and its allies have warned the group not to escalate the situation.