Lebanese caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati strongly condemned the recent Israeli strike on journalists in the southern Lebanese city of Hasbaya. Mikati described the attack as another chapter in the war crimes committed by the Israeli enemy without any deterrent or international intervention to stop these actions.
In a statement posted on the prime minister's website, Mikati asserted that the strike was a deliberate attempt to intimidate the media and obscure ongoing crimes and destruction. He announced that he has directed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants to include this incident in Lebanon's documented files on alleged Israeli crimes, which will be submitted to international authorities. Mikati expressed hope that the global conscience will intervene in the matter.
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) also issued a statement strongly condemning Israel for the killing of three journalists in Hasbaya. The victims included a cameraman and a broadcast engineer working for Lebanon-based TV channel Al Mayadeen, as well as a cameraman working for Hezbollah-affiliated TV channel Al-Manar.
The Israeli military stated that they are looking into the reports of the incident.
