At dawn on Friday, the Lebanese army accused Israel of killing a journalist who was part of a “media team” in southern Lebanon to cover the clashes between Hezbollah and Israel, amid the escalation of the war between the Hebrew state and Hamas in Gaza. According to a statement by the Lebanese Army, “While a media team of seven people was covering the media near the Al-Abad site belonging to the Israeli enemy in the outskirts of the town of Hula, enemy elements targeted them with machine guns, which led to the death of one of them and the injury of another.” The border area has witnessed an exchange of fire since October 7, when Hamas attacked southern Israel and Israeli forces launched a counter-attack on Gaza.
Published on: 10/20/2023 – 07:49
3 minutes
The Lebanese army said on Friday that Israeli forces killed a member of a media team on Thursday In the south of the country, where an intense exchange of fire took place Between them and members of Hezbollah.
The Israeli army announced earlier that its forces targeted Hezbollah infrastructure and wounded three people who attempted to fire anti-tank missiles at Israel.
In response to a question about the Lebanese army’s account, the Israeli army said it was investigating the matter.
Iran-backed Hezbollah said earlier that it fired missiles at an Israeli position in the village of Al-Manara, and Israel responded with artillery shelling in the latest exchange of fire during the worst escalation of violence on the border in 17 years.
The United Nations peacekeeping force (UNIFIL) said that a Lebanese civilian was killed on Thursday in an exchange of fire.
UNIFIL spokesman Andrea Tenenti said, “The Lebanese Armed Forces requested UNIFIL assistance for seven individuals stranded near the Blue Line, near the Sheikh Abbad shrine, during an intense exchange of fire across the Blue Line.”
He added that UNIFIL forces contacted the Israeli army to ask it to cease fire in order to rescue the group. He continued, “It is tragic that one person lost his life during this accident and others were able to be saved.”
The Lebanese army said in its statement that Israeli forces targeted a media team of seven individuals with machine guns, killing one of them and wounding another. The statement did not specify their identities.
The incident comes about a week after a Reuters TV journalist was killed and two other journalists were injured in southern Lebanon. The Lebanese army held Israel responsible for the incident, which the Israeli army says is conducting an investigation. Reuters calls on Israel to conduct a “comprehensive, prompt and transparent investigation.”
The border area has witnessed an exchange of fire since October 7, when Hamas attacked southern Israel and Israeli forces launched a counter-attack on Gaza.
Hezbollah said that its fighters hit the Israeli site in Al-Manara with guided missiles. He added that they attacked four other Israeli sites on Thursday.
The Israeli army had previously said that fighters in Lebanon fired at least two anti-tank missiles at Israel today, hitting the border village of Al-Manara, without causing casualties.
Hezbollah says it is fully prepared to enter into conflict with Israel. But sources familiar with the party’s thinking say that its attacks on the border aim to keep Israeli forces busy without opening a major new front.
The Israeli Defense Minister said on October 15 that Israel has no interest in waging war on its northern front, and that if Hezbollah adheres to restraint, Israel will keep the situation along the border as it is.
France 24/Reuters
2023-10-20 05:49:06
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