Journalist Killings in Israeli Airstrike Spark Beirut Protests; Russia Calls for Investigation
Targeting of Journalists: Deaths in South Lebanon Airstrike Spark Beirut Protests, Russia Calls for Investigation
Journalists and activists held a protest rally in Martyrs’ Square in central Beirut on Saturday, condemning the killing of three journalists in an airstrike in southern Lebanon. The protest was called by Lebanon’s journalists’ syndicate, with participants later marching toward Riad al-Solh Square.
According to Lebanon’s National News Agency, an airstrike targeted a vehicle carrying a media team from Al-Manar TV on the road to Jezzine, killing Al-Manar correspondent Ali Shoeib, Al-Mayadeen correspondent Fatima Ftouni, and photographer Mohammad Ftouni. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun described the incident as “deliberate” and called on the international community to halt attacks against Lebanon.
توثيق محلي: غارة إسرائيلية تقتل 3 صحافيين هم مراسل قناة المنار علي شعيب ومراسلة قناة الميادين فاطمة فتوني ومصور صحافي جنوب لبنان. https://t.co/2CA5BoK2YX pic.twitter.com/8nqGupuvwd
— غرفة الأخبار (@NewsroomAR) March 28, 2026
Russia Calls for Investigation
Russia’s Foreign Ministry called for a comprehensive investigation into the killing of the Lebanese journalists, stating that strikes targeting journalists constitute a violation of international law.
The ministry said the airstrike hit a civilian vehicle carrying journalists who were wearing clearly visible press insignia, resulting in the vehicle being completely incinerated.
#نبض_الأخبار
🔴 آثار غارة إسرائيلية أسفرت عن مقتل ثلاثة صحفيين جنوب لبنان
شاهد معنا بي بي سي نيوز عربي على موقعنا وعلى قناتنا على يوتيوبhttps://t.co/BOpyRTDiwRhttps://t.co/vtco07zvmr pic.twitter.com/ADGwfHgKmO— BBC News عربي (@BBCArabic) March 28, 2026
In a statement, the ministry rejected what it called the logic of “labeling a journalist as a terrorist” to justify targeting them, noting that the incident came just days after a similar attempt to target an RT news crew.
March 19: Previous targeting of RT journalists
لحظة إصابة مراسل RT ستيف سويني ومصوره بهجوم إسرائيلي في جنوب لبنانhttps://t.co/mrPzN04B5y pic.twitter.com/WUSEIvG8Cl
— RT Arabic (@RTarabic) March 19, 2026
