Tensions between Lebanon and Israel have intensified, with violent exchanges of shelling occurring at the border since dawn, leading to the martyrdom of an elderly woman and injuries to her granddaughter. Israeli artillery targeted a gathering of journalists in the Tyre Harfa area, which reportedly resulted in the martyrdom of three journalists, including Farah Omar, a correspondent for Al Mayadeen channel, and photographer Rabi’a Ma’ammari. The channel officially mourned the correspondent and the photographer in a statement.
Earlier today, the bodies of the martyrs Farah Omar and Rabi’a Ma’ammari arrived at the Al Mayadeen building.
In a separate statement, the "Islamic Resistance" announced that "in support of our steadfast Palestinian people in Gaza and in endorsement of their noble resistance, and in response to the targeting of journalists from Al Mayadeen, martyr Farah Omar and martyr Rabi’a Ma’ammari along with other civilian martyrs, the fighters of the Islamic Resistance attacked an Israeli military intelligence unit at 2:25 PM on Tuesday, November 21, 2023, with two guided missiles, resulting in fatalities and injuries among its members."
Lebanon’s Prime Minister Najib Mikati condemned the Israeli attack that targeted journalists in the south today, leading to the martyrdom of Al Mayadeen correspondent Farah Omar and photographer Rabi’a Ma’ammari, along with several civilians. He stated, "This attack once again demonstrates the boundless depravity of the Israeli enemy, whose goal is to silence the media that exposes its crimes and assaults. We extend our condolences to the Al Mayadeen family and the families of the journalists, asking God to embrace them in His mercy and grant their relatives patience and solace."
Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri remarked, "On this year's Independence Day, moments, no, even eons of silence are not enough to mourn the martyrs and the humanity that is being slaughtered by the Israeli killing and extermination machine from Gaza and all of Palestine to southern Lebanon. The latest martyrs of Lebanese journalism, after martyr Issam Abdullah, today Farah Omar and Rabi’a Ma’ammari and Hussein Akeel consecrate independence and national will with their blood, defending the truth, which is the true independence that cannot be restored or protected except through sacrifice."
Interior Minister Bassam Mawlawi condemned this crime, saying, "The targeting of journalists performing their duties to cover events alongside their people in support of their steadfastness in the south is unacceptable both morally and by any humanitarian standard, which unfortunately is lacking in the world today. I want to emphasize that the government and the Prime Minister are making every diplomatic and political effort necessary to protect the people of the south and spare Lebanon any adverse consequences from the events occurring in the region."
Hezbollah's media relations issued the following statement: "Once again, the Al Mayadeen channel is subjected to brutal Zionist aggression. After the measures taken by the enemy’s government to unjustifiably restrict the channel within the occupied Palestinian territories, the occupying forces committed a treacherous crime that led to the martyrdom of our dear colleagues, correspondent Farah Omar, and photographer Rabi’a Ma’ammari. This crime, along with the previous assassination of martyr journalist Issam Abdullah and the shooting at the media convoy in Yaroun, demonstrates the importance of the role media plays in exposing the enemy's terrorist practices and horrific crimes against civilians, especially in Gaza."
The statement continued: "The continued targeting of journalists directly and the killing of reporters show the enemy's severe annoyance with the important, essential, and central role that media plays, which has managed, through its efforts and great sacrifices, to shift public opinion in favor of the oppressed Palestinian people against the murderous and criminal Israeli enemy. We call on international media and humanitarian organizations to condemn this crime and similar previous crimes, raise their voices high, and exert the utmost pressure on the enemy’s government to stop its aggression against journalists and civilians."
