BEIRUT / JEZZINE — Lebanese President Joseph Aoun issued a scathing condemnation on Saturday, March 28, 2026, following an Israeli airstrike that killed three media workers in southern Lebanon. Labeling the attack a “blatant crime,” the President accused Israel of a premeditated violation of international humanitarian law, specifically targeting civilians performing their professional duties.
The strike, which occurred in the town of Jezzine, hit a vehicle clearly marked as a press car, resulting in the deaths of some of Lebanon’s most recognizable war correspondents.
The President’s Statement
In a formal address released by the presidency, Aoun framed the incident as part of a systematic disregard for the rules of war.
- Violation of Norms: “Once again, the Israeli aggression violates the most basic rules of international law and the laws of war by targeting journalists, who are ultimately civilians,” Aoun stated.
- Treaty Breach: He described the killing as a “blatant crime that violates all the norms and treaties under which journalists enjoy international protection in wars.”
- Call to Action: The President urged the international community to move beyond “silent condemnation” and hold the “aggressor” accountable for the deliberate targeting of the press.
Victims of the Jezzine Strike
The strike claimed the lives of three individuals traveling in the targeted media vehicle:
- Ali Shoaib: A veteran war correspondent for Hezbollah-affiliated Al-Manar TV, who had covered southern Lebanon for nearly three decades.
- Fatima Ftouni: A reporter for the pan-Arab network Al-Mayadeen. She had just finished a live broadcast from the south minutes before the missiles struck.
- Mohammad Ftouni: Fatima’s brother and a video journalist, who was also in the vehicle at the time of the impact.
The IDF Justification
The Israeli military officially acknowledged the strike but categorized it as a counter-terrorism operation rather than an attack on the press.
- Radwan Force Allegation: The IDF claimed that Ali Shoaib was a “terrorist in the intelligence unit of Hezbollah’s Radwan Force,” alleging he used his press credentials to scout Israeli troop movements.
- “Systematic Exposure”: An IDF spokesperson alleged Shoaib was “operating systematically to expose the locations of Israeli soldiers,” though no specific evidence was provided to the public.
- No Mention of Ftouni: The Israeli statement focused exclusively on Shoaib, leaving the deaths of Fatima and Mohammad Ftouni unaddressed in their military justification.
A Month of Media Casualties
The Jezzine strike brings the total number of journalists killed in Lebanon since the U.S.-Israel-Iran war expanded on March 2 to at least five.
| Date | Name | Affiliation | Location |
| March 28 | Ali Shoaib | Al-Manar TV | Jezzine |
| March 28 | Fatima Ftouni | Al-Mayadeen | Jezzine |
| March 28 | Mohammad Ftouni | Al-Mayadeen | Jezzine |
| March 18 | Mohammad Sherri | Al-Manar (Political Head) | Central Beirut |
| March 18 | Hajia Sherri | (Wife of Mohammad) | Central Beirut |
What’s Next?
The Lebanese government is expected to file an urgent complaint with the UN Security Council regarding the Jezzine incident. Domestically, the Union of Journalists has called for a general strike and a day of mourning tomorrow. This escalation adds further tension to the April 6 deadline in Islamabad, as regional leaders question whether “humanitarian pauses” will extend to protecting the media and civilian infrastructure.
