Lebanon: Journalist killed in Israeli air strike in Beirut

Lebanese journalist Mohammed Sherri was killed alongside his wife in an Israeli airstrike on a residential building in Central Beirut on 18 March. Several members of his family were also injured in the attack. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) joins its affiliate, the Union of Journalists of Lebanon (UJL), in condemning the attack, denouncing it as a violation of international humanitarian law and calling for accountability.

Prominent journalist, veteran anchor and head of the political programs department at Al-Manar TV, Hajj Mohammad Sherri, was killed alongside his wife when an Israeli strike hit their residential building in the Zuqaq al Blat neighborhood, situated in central Beirut, on the morning of 18 March. Al Manar confirmedhis death, while describing him as one of its most prominent journalists.

Several members of Sherri's family, including his children and grandchildren, were injured in the attack and transferred to hospitals. His son, Yasser Sherri, an editor at Iraq-based Aletejah TV, was injured during the same strike.

On 18 March, multiple attacks were reportedacross Beirut, including in Bashoura, Basta and the city's southern suburbs. In one of these attacks, RT correspondent Steve Sweeney and his cameraman were injured.They were with a group of journalists covering the Israeli bombing of the al Qasmiya bridge, over the Litani River in southern Lebanon. Freelance journalists and photographers Haitham Moussawi and Kount Hajo (Ali Hajo), were also injured while covering Israeli bombing around Abbasiya village near Tyre, Southern Lebanon.

Since the escalation, journalists in Lebanon have faced increasing risks, including injuries, strikes on media outlets, obstruction of reporting and displacement from affected areas.

In a statement, the Union of Journalists of Lebanon condemnedthe killing, describing it as a "flagrant violation of international law" and calling for accountability. The union stressed that targeting civilians in residential areas, regardless of intent, constitutes a serious breach of international humanitarian law.

IFJ General Secretary Anthony Bellanger said: "We strongly condemn the killing of Mohammad Sherri and the continued targeting of journalists and civilians in Lebanon. Striking a residential building and killing a media professional in his home shows a complete disregard for international humanitarian law. We call for a swift, independent investigation and for those responsible to be held accountable."

The IFJ has issuedsafety advisories in English and French for journalists covering the war in Lebanon.