A Lebanese journalist described enduring hours of agony after an Israeli airstrike killed her colleague and left her seriously wounded, speaking to The Associated Press in an interview published Friday.
The journalist, who works for a Beirut-based news outlet, said she and her colleague were reporting near the southern Lebanese town of Tyre when the strike hit their vehicle on Wednesday. She recounted being trapped in the wreckage with her colleague, who died at the scene, while she waited for rescue teams to reach them amid ongoing Israeli military operations in the area.
She told the AP that she remained conscious but in severe pain for several hours, unable to move due to injuries to her legs and lower torso. She said she could hear her colleague’s final breaths before he died beside her, and that she feared she would not survive until help arrived.
Rescue crews eventually reached the site and transported her to a hospital in Sidon, where she underwent surgery for shrapnel wounds and internal injuries. Medical officials confirmed her condition is stable but critical, and she remains under intensive care.
The Israeli military has not issued a specific statement regarding the strike on the journalists’ vehicle, but said in a general briefing that it targets Hezbollah infrastructure and operatives in southern Lebanon, asserting that militants often embed themselves among civilian populations and use civilian vehicles for movement.
Lebanon’s Ministry of Information condemned the attack as a violation of international law and press freedom, calling for an independent investigation into the targeting of media personnel. The ministry said it has documented multiple incidents in recent weeks where journalists have come under fire while carrying out their duties near the Israel-Lebanon border.
The Committee to Protect Journalists said it is verifying the incident and urged Israeli forces to ensure the safety of reporters working in conflict zones, noting that at least five journalists have been killed in Lebanon since October 2023 in circumstances linked to Israeli military operations.
France’s Foreign Ministry, which maintains close ties with Lebanese media institutions, said it is monitoring the situation closely and reiterated its support for the protection of journalists under international humanitarian law.
The wounded journalist, who has not been named at her request pending further medical treatment, told the AP that she intends to continue reporting once she recovers, stating that bearing witness remains her professional duty despite the risks.
