Israeli Army Alleges Journalists Were in Combat Zone During Lebanon Shelling
The Israeli military has claimed that AFP journalists were operating in an active war zone during shelling in Lebanon, according to their findings. The army had requested the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (Unifil) to confirm the absence of civilians in the combat zone on the day prior to the incident.
On October 13, tensions escalated when the pro-Iranian Hezbollah militia, an ally of Hamas in Lebanon, carried out attacks on several targets in Israeli territory along the Lebanese border. In response, Israel conducted artillery and tank attacks to deter potential infiltrations by terrorists from Lebanon.
Tragically, the shelling resulted in injuries and fatalities among journalists covering the border region conflicts, including Reuters photojournalist Issam Abdallah, who was killed. AFP photographer Christina Assi and her video colleague Dylan Collins, as well as two employees from the Al-Jazeera television station and two other Reuters journalists, were also injured in the explosions. Assi, who sustained severe injuries, required a leg amputation and continues to receive treatment.
AFP collaborated with Airwars, a British non-governmental organization, to investigate the attack. The joint investigation involved analyzing fragments of ammunition, satellite images, witness statements, and expert videos to gather evidence and identify the culprit.
AFP Information Director, Phil Chetwynd, emphasized the importance of seeking answers from Israel in order to secure justice for Christina Assi and Issam Abdallah. The US Secretary of State Antony Blinken also urged a comprehensive and thorough investigation into the matter.
As a reminder, previous conflicts in the region have resulted in alarming violations of international law, as exampled by the conduct of Israeli forces in the Gaza Strip. It is vital to ensure that accountability measures are upheld, and that the safety of journalists, civilians, and human rights are protected during times of conflict.
Sources:
- "AFP: Israeli Army on AFP research: Journalists 'in active combat zone' during shelling in Lebanon." Stern.de, 14 Oct. 2023, .
- Enrichment data from the original article, "AFP: Israeli army on AFP research: Journalists 'in active combat zone' during shelling in Lebanon." Stern.de, 14 Oct. 2023, .
