A group of young men assaulted a team from the Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation International (LBCI) on Monday while they were covering the entry of residents and the army into villages in the eastern sector of southern Lebanon.
The journalists present at the scene were Lara Al-Hashem, Tony Kirillos, and Robert Ghassan. Journalist Tony Kirillos sustained bruises that required hospital treatment, while Lara Al-Hashem and Robert Ghassan suffered minor injuries.
The assailants vandalized the team’s camera and live broadcast vehicles in the Deir Mimas-Kfarkila-Khirdali area.
A similar incident occurred a day earlier when a team from MTV Lebanon was harassed and prevented from filming and conducting live broadcasts in the south.
Condemnation of Journalist Attacks
Following the incident, numerous condemnations and statements of support were issued.
Caretaker Minister of Information Ziad Makary contacted Pierre El-Daher, Chairman of LBCI, to express solidarity with the team subjected to the assault.
Makary inquired about their well-being and expressed astonishment at the attack on journalists risking their lives to cover the truth in a professional manner.
The Lebanese Press Editors Syndicate issued a statement condemning the assault on Lara Al-Hashem, a syndicate member, and the LBCI team.
The syndicate denounced the attack, called on everyone to facilitate the work of journalists, and reaffirmed its rejection of any form of aggression against media personnel.
The Progressive Socialist Party also issued a statement rejecting any assault on journalists and reiterated its call to avoid violence or any form of pressure against media personnel.
The Press Club called on security forces to identify the attackers, emphasizing that protecting the perpetrators would only encourage further attacks. “Yesterday it was MTV, today it is LBCI, and tomorrow it is unclear who will be targeted next,” read the statement.
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