Al Mayadeen martyrs cameraman Ghassan Najjar and broadcast engineer Mohammad Reda killed by an Israeli airstrike on the journalists' residence in Hasbayya, South Lebanon, on October 25, 2024. Photo: Al Mayadeen.
The ‘Israeli’ occupation’s assault on the freedom of the press and freedom of speech continues unabated amid the eerie silence of the international community.
‘Israeli’ occupation forces carried out an aerial attack on the place of residence of press crews in Hasbayya, southern Lebanon, resulting in several casualties among journalists, cameramen, and technicians.
Shortly after, the Lebanese Civil Defense announced that three journalists were killed in the ‘Israeli’ airstrike on the town of Hasbayya.
Following the deliberate attack on the freedom of the press, Al Mayadeen announced the martyrdom of two of its crew members covering the ‘Israeli’ war on Lebanon across the southern front: cameraman Ghassan Najjar and broadcast engineer Mohammad Reda.
On its part, Al Manar TV mourned its cameraman Wissam Qassem who was also martyred in the ‘Israeli’ aggression.
Commenting on the aggression, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Al Mayadeen Media Network, Ghassan Ben Jeddou, held the ‘Israeli’ occupation “fully responsible for this war crime in which it targeted the journalists’ crews, including Al Mayadeen’s.”
“The [‘Israeli’] occupation’s targeting of the journalists’ residence was deliberate, and there are others wounded from other Arab channels as well,” he said.
Ben Jeddou said the occupation “finds pleasure in killing,” and among those it targets are journalists “who expose its criminality.”
“Al Mayadeen will keep going and shall never retreat,” vowed the chairman of the network’s board of directors, asserting that the aggression did not target Al Mayadeen exclusively “as it is an aggression against all press crews.”
Furthermore, Al Mayadeen extended its deepest condolences to Al Manar TV for the martyrdom of colleague Wissam Qassem and prayed that God bestows strength and steadfastness upon his family.
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Meanwhile, Al Mayadeen’s correspondent in South Lebanon, Fatima Ftouni, confirmed that the strike targeted a residential area where journalists, cameramen, and technicians from various media outlets were stationed in the region for several weeks.
From the targeted site in Hasbayya in South Lebanon, our correspondent asserted that the ‘Israeli’ occupation directly targeted several press crews.
“Two missiles from a warplane directly targeted press crews,” she affirmed, despite cars parked at the site clearly marked with ‘PRESS’.
Similarly, on Wednesday evening, the ‘Israeli’ occupation also launched an attack on Al Mayadeen’s bureau in Beirut. However, the channel had evacuated its office at the beginning of the assault on Lebanon.
Al Mayadeen held the ‘Israeli’ occupation fully responsible for the attack on a well-known media office of its widely-recognized news channel.
Following the attack, Lebanon’s caretaker Minister of Information, Ziad Makari, stated that the government will take measures regarding the attack on Al Mayadeen and will correspond with relevant international bodies.
In an interview for Al Mayadeen, Makari emphasized that this aggression will not affect the news network. The Minister also paid tribute to the two martyred colleagues, Farah Omar and Rabih Me’mari, and other martyred journalists.
Al Mayadeen’s correspondent in South Lebanon, Farah Omar, alongside photojournalist Rabih Me’mari, and civil companion Hussein Akil were martyred on November 21 last year in an ‘Israeli’ drone drone that deliberately targeted them in Tayr Harfa, South Lebanon.
An ‘Israeli’ warplane fired two rockets on Farah and Rabih’s location.
They had just ended a live broadcast, giving updates on the latest ‘Israeli’ bombardment on South Lebanon. Al Mayadeen’s crew was targeted immediately after wrapping up their coverage and went off air.
On September 24, Hadi al-Sayyed, our colleague at Al Mayadeen, was also martyred in the ‘Israeli’ aggression on South Lebanon.
Martyr al-Sayyed had sustained critical injuries to the head after an ‘Israeli’ airstrike hit his hometown of Burj Rahhal in South Lebanon.
The martyr had been transported to a hospital in Saida for treatment, undergoing urgent surgery, but he eventually succumbed to his wounds and tragically passed away, with his life cut so short.
Al Mayadeen Media Network eulogized martyr Hadi al-Sayyed, a colleague within its online department’s social media unit. The network underlined that it will pursue its journey, undeterred and unbowed by ‘Israeli’ aggression, pledging to remain steadfast in its battle against the Israeli occupation.
