Moscow expresses concern over Israeli killing of Lebanese journalists
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Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova extends condolences to the families of the martyred journalists and sympathy with the government and people of Lebanon.
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People observe the site where an Israeli airstrike hit a compound housing journalists, killing three journalists in Hasbayavillage, southeast Lebanon on October 25, 2024. (AP)
Russia is profoundly worried about the rising violence and civilian losses in Lebanon as a result of Israeli attacks, which have also killed journalists, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Saturday.
"We are deeply concerned about the escalation of violence in Lebanon," the spokeswoman stated.
She pointed out that the Israeli forces have launched several indiscriminate attacks on densely populated residential neighborhoods in Beirut and other Lebanese cities, resulting in mass civilian casualties.
A great deal of journalists and media workers have been killed or injured, Zakharova added.
The Russian spokeswoman also extended condolences to the families of the martyred journalists and sympathy with the government and people of Lebanon, "who have been subjected to yet another armed aggression."
On Friday, Israeli occupation forces carried out an aerial attack on the place of residence of press crews in Hasbayya, southern Lebanon, resulting in several casualties among journalists, cameramen, and technicians.
Shortly after, the Lebanese Civil Defense announced that three journalists were killed in the Israeli airstrike.
Al Mayadeen announced the martyrdom of two of its crew members covering the Israeli aggression on Lebanon across the southern front: cameraman Ghassan Najjar and broadcast engineer Mohammad Reda.
Al Manar TV also mourned its cameraman Wissam Qassem who was also martyred in the Israeli aggression.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in South Lebanon, Farah Omar, alongside photojournalist Rabih Me'mari, and civil companion Hussein Akil were martyred on November 21 last year in an Israeli drone attack that deliberately targeted them in the town of Tayr Harfa.
On September 24, Hadi al-Sayyed, our colleague at Al Mayadeen, was also martyred in an Israeli airstrike on South Lebanon.
Lebanon takes stand: UN complaint filed over Israeli attack on press
"لاحترام القانون اللبناني فيما يتعلق بالعداء لـ "إسرائيل"، فالإسرائيلي عدو والإشارة إليه بهذه الصفة هي التزام بالقانون"
— الميادين لبنان (@mayadeenlebanon) October 26, 2024
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وزير الإعلام في حكومة تصريف الاعمال اللبنانية زياد مكاري#الميادين #الميادين_لبنان @ZiadMakary pic.twitter.com/EDYKEz1YhL
During a press conference, Makary pointed out that the recent martyrdom of fellow journalists serves as a stark reminder that no one is safe from the Israeli threat.
He affirmed that “media freedom ceases to exist when it is not accompanied by professionalism, especially in times of war,” adding, “Today, we are not in a civil war; we are facing a war waged by the Israeli enemy against Lebanon following the events in Gaza.”
