Israeli airstrike kills journalists covering war in Lebanon

An Israeli airstrike hit guesthouses where journalists were staying in southeast Lebanon on Friday, killing three media staffers from two different news agencies according to Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency. 

It was a rare airstrike on an area that has been used by the media as a base for covering the war. 

The airstrike turned buildings used by media outlets covering the war into rubble with cars marked “PRESS” being overturned and covered in dust and debris. 

The Israeli army did not issue a warning prior to the strike, which it said targeted Hezbollah militant infrastructure. The military later said the strike was being reviewed. 

Several journalists have been killed since a near-daily exchange of fire began along the Lebanon-Israel border on October 8, 2023.  

Lebanon’s health ministry says the total toll over the past year is over 2,500 killed and 12,000 wounded with 1.2 million Lebanese people reportedly driven from their homes, including 400,000 children, according to the United Nations. 

Two people in Israel died of their wounds after a rocket attack from Hezbollah militants in Lebanon on Friday, the country’s rescue services said. 

Rocket shrapnel hit the Israeli town of Majd Al-Krum, with a further seven people being injured. 

Militants in Lebanon fired 45 projectiles into Israel on Friday. Some were intercepted by Israel’s air defences whilst others reportedly fell into open areas. 

Earlier on Friday, Israeli attack on the Gazan city of Khan Younis left at least 38 people dead.

The strikes came a day after US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that Israel had accomplished its objective of “effectively dismantling” Hamas and urged both sides to resume negotiations.  

During his visit to Qatar, he expressed hope for the revival of ceasefire talks between Israel and Hamas in the coming days. 

Israel’s offensive in Gaza has killed over 42,000 Palestinians according to local health authorities.