JEZZINE / BEIRUT — A devastating Israeli airstrike targeted a clearly marked press vehicle in the southern Lebanese city of Jezzine on Saturday, March 28, 2026, killing three media workers. The victims include prominent war correspondent Ali Shoaib of Hezbollah-affiliated Al-Manar TV, reporter Fatima Ftouni of the pan-Arab network Al-Mayadeen, and her brother, video journalist Mohammad Ftouni.
The strike, which reportedly involved four precision missiles, has drawn fierce international condemnation and accusations of war crimes, as it marks the deadliest single day for the press since the Israel-Hezbollah war began on March 2.
The Attack: “Directly Targeted”
The journalists were traveling on the Al-Barad road in Jezzine when their vehicle, which Al-Mayadeen stated was clearly identified as a press car, was struck at approximately noon local time.
- Immediate Fatalities: All four passengers in the vehicle died instantly. Fatima Ftouni had just finished a live broadcast from southern Lebanon minutes before the missiles struck.
- Secondary Strike on Rescuers: Reports from Al-Mayadeen and Lebanese Civil Defense indicate that as ambulances rushed to the scene, a secondary strike targeted the area, killing one paramedic and wounding four others.
- Presidential Condemnation: Lebanese President Joseph Aoun called the strike a “blatant crime” and a “flagrant violation of international humanitarian law,” urging the UN to intervene to protect civilians and media personnel.
The “Dual-Status” Allegation
In a rare move, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) officially acknowledged the killing of Ali Shoaib but provided a controversial justification that has sparked further outrage.
- The IDF Claim: The Israeli military accused Ali Shoaib of being a member of the Radwan Force, Hezbollah’s elite intelligence unit. They alleged he used his role as a journalist as “cover” to systematically expose the locations of Israeli soldiers along the border.
- No Evidence Provided: While the IDF labeled Shoaib a “terrorist in the intelligence unit,” they have not yet released public evidence to substantiate the claim.
- Silence on Other Victims: The Israeli military statement notably did not mention Fatima or Mohammad Ftouni, focusing solely on Shoaib as the primary target.
A Growing Toll on the Press
The deaths of Shoaib and the Ftouni siblings bring the total number of journalists and media workers killed in Lebanon this year to five, as the conflict reaches its one-month mark.
| 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 25 | Hussain Hamood | Freelance (Al-Manar) | Nabatiyeh |
| March 18 | Mohammad Sherri | Al-Manar (Political Head) | Central Beirut |
What’s Next?
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) are expected to issue formal statements calling for an independent investigation into the “systematic targeting” of media facilities. In Beirut, the Union of Journalists has called for a day of mourning tomorrow. This escalation comes just as U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is expected to discuss a “concluding strategy” for the war, raising questions about whether civilian and media protections will be part of the final April 6 deadline negotiations.
