Killing of Al Mayadeen journalists evidence of special role: Iran's FM

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Al Mayadeen
22 Nov 2023 04:17

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian commends the role of journalists who cover Israeli crimes in Gaza and Lebanon.

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, speaks during the 10th Emergency Special Session 39th plenary meeting at the United Nations, in New York, United States, on October 26, 2023. (AFP)

The martyrdom of journalists as a result of "Israel's" direct targeting of media crews is evidence of their special role in portraying the genocide that the Israeli regime is committing, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian posted on X.

شهادت دهها خبرنگار و تصویر‌بردار در غزه و جنوب‌ لبنان در حملات وحشیانه رژیم جعلی اسراییل و از جمله شهادت دو خبرنگار پر‌تلاش المیادین، نشانگر تاثیرگذاری و نقش ویژه خبرنگاران در انعکاس نسل‌کشی و جنایات جنگی رژیم اسراییل و بیداری افکار‌‌عمومی جهان است.
— H.Amirabdollahian امیرعبداللهیان (@Amirabdolahian) November 21, 2023

"The martyrdom of dozens of journalists and cameramen in Gaza and South Lebanon in the brutal attacks of the fake Israeli regime, including the martyrdom of two hard-working Al Mayadeen journalists, shows the influence and special role of journalists in portraying the genocide and war crimes of the Israeli regime and awakening the public opinion of the world," Amir-Abdollahian wrote.

The Iranian Foreign Minister's remarks come after Al Mayadeen's correspondent, Farah Omar, and cameraman Rabih Me'mari were murdered earlier on Tuesday in an Israeli drone strike in Tayr Harfa, South Lebanon.

An Israeli arrack drone fired two missiles on Farah and Rabih's location, killing their civilian companion Hussein Akil.

Farah and her colleagues were targeted soon after they wrapped up their coverage and went off air on Tuesday morning.

Soon after, the Islamic Resistance in Lebanon - Hezbollah announced that its fighters carried out three separate operations against Israeli military targets in response to the Israeli occupation forces' crime of murdering the journalists and other civilians on Tuesday.

The Resistance group offered its condolences over the killing of the two journalists who were targeted by the "treacherous Zionist aggression."

Just a few hours after the reporters were martyred, Hezbollah targeted at 2:25 pm a unit of the "War Corps" associated with the Israeli military intelligence stationed in a house on the outskirts of the "Manara" settlement.

In the first statement, Hezbollah said this was "an initial response," confirming that it was carried out using two guided missiles, which directly hit the target, resulting in certain deaths and injuries among the Israeli force.

The parents of martyr Farah made a statement in the wake of the Israeli occupation's flagrant war crime, underlining that this loss will not break their stride.

Farah's father underlined that the war crime committed against his daughter should not deter journalists from carrying out their duty. "Farah is gone, but there will be a million more like her."

"What happened is an offering for the sake of Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, and the Resistance will live on," he added.

Just as his colleague, Farah, martyr Rabih insisted on covering the events in southern Lebanon on the border with occupied Palestine, according to his wife, colleague Manal Jaafar, who quoted their last conversation together before his martyrdom.

"This crime is nothing new for the Israeli occupation" as it had killed Reuters photographer martyr Issam Abdullah, "but we offer our lives for the sake of the cause and the homeland, and this is our message as journalists."