On Monday, the media office of the Lebanese Forces issued a statement saying: "This is not the first time, and it likely won’t be the last, that journalists become targets of Israeli fire, paying with their blood and injuries for the truth they report. Perhaps their action is more potent than the sound of any shells or artillery used in a war that does not spare the innocent."
The statement continued: "The media office in the Lebanese Forces condemns these practices, which are unacceptable by all standards, and confirms solidarity with the journalists who risk their lives at the front lines. They deserve all appreciation and respect for the noble mission they perform."
The Lebanese Press Syndicate, for its part, stated in a release: "After a series of continuous crimes and with premeditated intent targeting the eyes, pens, and voices of truth that expose the nature and barbarity of what the Israeli killing machine commits in Gaza, extending to Lebanon and its border towns adjacent to Palestine, the Israeli military establishment renews its hostility, this time targeting a large number of female and male journalists and photographers, while they were performing their professional duties, adhering to all professional standards."
It added: "While the Lebanese Press Syndicate Board congratulates colleagues for their safety from this assault, which the occupation deliberately committed with premeditation in a transparent and futile attempt to silence and obscure the pivotal role played by journalists, correspondents, photographers, and opinion writers in exposing Israel's aggression and its crimes in Gaza and Lebanon, the Board also praises the bravery, courage, and discipline of journalists from all Lebanese, Arab, and foreign media outlets spread along the front lines. At the same time, it places this crime before regional and international organizations and unions that oversee journalists' affairs to act quickly to curb the Israeli aggression against people and those defending truth."
Hezbollah condemned the media relations department's actions, stating, "The Zionist occupation forces targeted media outlets operating in the south while they were on a scheduled tour in the town of Yaroun to cover the effects of the Israeli assaults. This is considered a documented crime and a blatant attack aimed at preventing the media from exposing its terrorist practices and ongoing crimes."
The statement read: "This new crime adds to the enemy's record filled with crimes against journalists and media outlets in Palestine and Lebanon, including the killing of journalists and the destruction of media headquarters. We are confident that this will not prevent free journalists from continuing their honorable mission in conveying images of resilience, heroism, and resistance, as well as exposing the crimes of the aggressors." They concluded: "We renew our call for the broadest solidarity campaign with journalists working in Palestine and Lebanon, and to condemn Israel in all international and humanitarian forums."
The Central Media Office of the Amal Movement also issued a statement condemning "the malicious and cowardly targeting of the journalists' convoy in the town of Yaroun by the brutal Israeli enemy, which proves daily the extent of its hatred and crime and its lack of respect for laws, treaties, and international conventions that stipulate the protection of civilians and journalists in wars and conflicts."
They continued: "This blatant targeting reveals the false claims of the enemy, which alleged 'error' when it targeted journalists on October 13 in Alama al-Shab, resulting in the martyrdom of colleague Issam Abdullah, confirming without a doubt that its aggression reaches all Lebanese, regardless of their affiliations and orientations."
The statement expressed gratitude for the safety of targeted colleagues and called on the Lebanese government for immediate action at the United Nations to hold the enemy accountable for its crimes and to expose it before the whole world.
The Progressive Socialist Party’s media commission, through social platform "X", announced that "the Israeli army continues to accumulate documented crimes, including its repeated intentional targeting of journalists in Palestine and southern Lebanon, and it has attacked them again today in the south, but no matter what it does, it will not succeed in deterring the media from exposing its violations." The statement concluded: "We appreciate the colleagues working to expose the occupation’s actions."
The Minister of Information in the caretaker government, Ziad Makary, wrote on "X": "Once again, Israel directly targets the press operating in the south. In response to this crime, we say: The attempts to intimidate free journalism will not deter journalists from their duties. Journalism is here to convey the truth about this enemy that grows more criminal by the day. Journalism will remain here to document and archive the crimes of this enemy so that future generations know that Israel has thrived on murder and violence."
The Future Movement also issued a statement through its media affairs agency: "It is not new for the Israeli enemy, which commits genocidal crimes in Gaza and kills children in occupied Palestine and southern Lebanon, to continue targeting journalists and committing war crimes against them, similar to what happened today in the southern town of Yaroun, as long as it finds no one to deter it from the countries of this world that has lost its humanity and failed its test of credibility in defending human rights and media liberties and international law."
It continued: "We thank God for the safety of the media colleagues who survived the Israeli enemy’s targeting, as they perform their duty of conveying the truth. We express our appreciation for their professionalism, courage, and sacrifices that are unshaken by any attacks, through which they expose, in undeniable terms, the brutality of this enemy in its aggression against our land and its inhabitants, including civilians, children, women, rescuers, and journalists."
