Lebanon: LBCI and MTV media crews assaulted while reporting in southern Lebanon

A team of the Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation International (LBCI) was assaulted and beaten by a group of individuals on 27 January in southern Lebanon. They were covering the return of residents to towns that had been occupied by the Israeli military. One day earlier, an MTV media crew was prevented from filming in the south of the country. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) joins its affiliate, the Lebanese Journalists' Syndicate (LJS), in condemning all kinds of violence against journalists, and reiterates that hindering the work of journalists is a threat to media freedom.

LBCI reported that the station's broadcast live vehicle was damaged during the incident. Credit: LBCI

A group of young men attacked journalists Lara El Hachem, who is a member of the LJS, Tony Kirillos and Robert Ghassan of the private broadcaster LBCI due to "disagreementsover the designation of Hezbollah fighters". One of the journalists sufferedbruises requiring hospital treatment. The assailants seized their camera and damaged the station's broadcast live vehicle, LBCI reported.

The attack happened in the village of Deir Mimas in Marjayoun, while the media crew was covering the return of residents to towns that had been occupied by the Israeli military. After the incident, the team reported that it had been followed by another vehicle on the highway.

A second attack occurred one day earlier, on 26 January. A media team from the private station MTV was harassed, and prevented from both filming and broadcasting live from the south of the country.

The IFJ-affiliated LJS issued a statement condemningthe attacks and expressing solidarity with colleagues: "We firmly reject all kinds of violence against journalists and media professionals, regardless of their affiliation, [and reiterate that] violence or any form of pressure must not be targeted at journalists under any pretext."

IFJ General Secretary Anthony Bellanger denounced the assaults and reiterated that journalists must be allowed to do their work without fear of reprisal: "When journalists reporting on the ground are attacked, the ability to do their job is severely compromised and their safety is at risk. We call on the Lebanese authorities to launch a thorough investigation, and we demand that recently designated Prime Minister Nawaf Salam take concrete steps to tackle the climate of impunity and intimidation faced by journalists in Lebanon".