Israeli Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi has stated that the ongoing conflict between the Israeli military and Hezbollah could potentially reach a decisive conclusion. On October 24, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced that they had “completely destroyed” Hezbollah’s high command structure, suggesting that operations in the northern regions against Hezbollah might soon “come to a complete end.”
According to a Reuters report, early on October 25, Israel launched airstrikes on the southern Lebanese town of Hasbaya, targeting multiple Hezbollah installations, including a site used for launching rockets into Israel and several weapon storage facilities. The fighting in southern Lebanon has resulted in the deaths of four soldiers and at least three journalists, with several others injured.
Local media and the Lebanese Ministry of Health reported that the deceased included Ghassan Najjar, a photographer for the pro-Iranian Al-Mayadeen TV, engineer Mohamed Reda, and Wissam Qassem, a photographer for Hezbollah’s Al-Manar TV, who were reportedly sleeping in their hotel at the time of the strike.
This incident marks the deadliest attack on journalists in the year-long conflict between Israel and Hezbollah. Prior to this, five journalists, including Reuters reporter Issam Abdallah, were killed in an earlier Israeli attack on Lebanon.
Lebanese Information Minister Ziad Makary has accused the Israeli military of failing to issue a warning before the airstrike, labeling it a “war crime” that involved premeditated targeting after surveillance and planning. At least 18 journalists from seven different media outlets, including Sky News, Al Jazeera, and local broadcasters, were staying in the hotel at the time of the attack.
The director of Al-Manar TV has also claimed that the airstrike targeting journalists was deliberate, aimed at obscuring Israel’s military actions, vowing to continue reporting regardless. In a statement, the IDF identified six journalists from Al Jazeera, accusing them of ties to Hamas, alleging they had served as snipers and training coordinators for the group. Al Jazeera has denied these accusations, asserting that Israel is fabricating facts.
In a separate development, representatives from the United States and Israel are scheduled to meet in Doha, Qatar, to prepare for a new round of ceasefire negotiations concerning Gaza, which will include discussions on hostage releases.
Israel has announced that Mossad Director David Barnea will travel to Doha on October 27 to meet with CIA Director William Burns and the Qatari Prime Minister.
