JEZZINE, LEBANON — In a tragic escalation targeting the press, two high-profile journalists were killed in an Israeli airstrike on Saturday, March 28, 2026. The strike targeted a vehicle in the southern town of Jezzine, approximately 40 km (25 miles) south of Beirut, according to local reports from Al-Jadeed and the National News Agency (NNA).
The Victims: Voices of the Frontline
The journalists were veteran reporters known for their extensive coverage of the border conflict:
- Ali Shoeib (Al-Manar): A household name in Lebanon, Shoeib was the primary southern correspondent for the Hezbollah-affiliated Al-Manar TV. He was famous for his defiant broadcasts from the “Blue Line,” often filming just feet away from Israeli military positions.
- Fatima Ftouni (Al-Mayadeen): A prominent reporter for the pan-Arab Al-Mayadeen network. Ftouni had been reporting from the frontlines for weeks and had recently survived a major strike on a journalists’ compound in Hasbaya that killed three of her colleagues in late 2024.
The Strike Details
The incident occurred at approximately noon local time when an Israeli warplane or drone targeted their car as it traveled through the Jezzine district.
- Direct Target: Lebanese media outlets have described the strike as a “deliberate assassination,” alleging that the vehicle was clearly marked or known to be transporting press personnel.
- IDF Response: As of Saturday afternoon, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has not issued a specific comment on the strike in Jezzine, though it confirmed “dozens of strikes” against Hezbollah infrastructure and operatives across southern Lebanon overnight and into Saturday.
A Deadly Month for the Press
The deaths of Shoeib and Ftouni add to a mounting toll of media workers killed since the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran began on February 28:
| Date | Journalist | Outlet | Location |
| March 5 | Hussain Hamood | Freelance (Al-Manar) | Nabatieh |
| March 18 | Mohammed Sherri | Al-Manar (Political Head) | Central Beirut |
| March 28 | Ali Shoeib | Al-Manar | Jezzine |
| March 28 | Fatima Ftouni | Al-Mayadeen | Jezzine |
International Condemnation
The Union of Journalists of Lebanon (UJL) and the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) issued immediate statements condemning the strike as a “flagrant violation of international humanitarian law.”
- “Establishing a Blackout”: Media rights groups argue that the repeated targeting of journalists in southern Lebanon is an attempt to create a “media blackout” as Israeli ground forces reportedly intensify their push toward the Litani River.
- The Islamabad Agenda: This latest tragedy is expected to be raised during Monday’s Quadrilateral Summit in Pakistan, as regional leaders push for “protected zones” for civilians and press workers under the proposed 15-point ceasefire plan.
