Reuters journalist killed during shelling in Lebanon

International News | The Hill

A journalist working for Reuters was killed during fighting in Lebanon, the outlet confirmed Thursday.

“We are deeply saddened to learn that our videographer, Issam Abdallah, has been killed,” a spokesperson for Reuters said in a statement.

Issam was part of a Reuters crew in southern Lebanon that was providing a live signal and images from the ground.

Al Jazeera said some of its reporters were also part of the group of journalists that was hit by what is called a “shelling attack by Israeli forces.”

Reuters said as of Thursday afternoon, it is “urgently seeking more information, working with authorities in the region, and supporting Issam’s family and colleagues.”

Reuters journalists Thaer Al-Sudani and Maher Nazeh also sustained injuries as part of the incident that killed Issam and are seeking medical care, the outlet said.

“Our thoughts are with their families at this terrible time,” the company said.

Al Jazeera said videographer Elie Brakhya and reporter Carmen Joukhadar were also among the wounded.

An hour before Reuters confirmed his death, Issam’s account on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, published a short video showing plumes of smoke and loud bangs amid heavy bombing and shelling in what he wrote was the “vicinity of Alma Al-Shaab – southern Lebanon.”

Reuters later removed its live video feed on the Israel-Lebanon border due to “graphic content.”

Fighting has intensified between Israeli military forces and Hamas in the region in recent days following a terrorist attack over the weekend that killed hundreds of Israelis.

On Wednesday, Israeli forces said they had struck militant group Hezbollah targets in Lebanon in response to the group firing an anti-tank missile at an Israeli army position.

Dozens of international news outlets have deployed reporters, camera operators and other personnel to the region as fighting in the region is expected to stretch into the coming weeks and months, with Israel preparing for a ground invasion into Gaza.