An Israeli strike on a car in southern Lebanon has killed three Lebanese journalists, Lebanon's Al Manar TV reported on Saturday (March 28).

Al Manar reporter Ali Shaib and reporter Fatima Ftouni, from broadcaster Al Mayadeen, were killed when their vehicle was hit.

Lebanon's information minister later said Ftouni's brother, cameraman Mohammed Ftouni, had also been killed in the strike.

Al Manar is controlled by the Iran-backed Lebanese group Hezbollah and Al Mayadeen is widely seen as editorially aligned with Iran's allies and supporters in the region.

The Israeli military said in a statement it had "eliminated" Shaib, whom it described as a "terrorist" in a Hezbollah intelligence unit who had reported on the locations of Israeli soldiers in southern Lebanon.

It accused him of "incitement" against Israeli soldiers and civilians.

The military's statement made no mention of any other deaths and provided no evidence to support the assertion that Shaib was a member of Hezbollah.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun described them in a statement on X as "civilians doing their professional duty."

"It is a brazen crime that violates all treaties and norms through which journalists enjoy international protection in war," he said.

Al Manar described Shaib as an "icon of resistance reporting."

Al Mayadeen said Ftouni had been distinguished by her brave and objective coverage.

The killings followed the death of Hussain Hamood, a Lebanese freelance journalist working for Al Manar who the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) said on X was killed in an Israeli airstrike on Wednesday (March 25).

At least three other reporters across the Middle East have been killed in airstrikes since the Iran war began late last month, the CPJ said on Thursday (March 26).

The U.S. military did not respond to a request for comment.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

JEZZINE, SOUTHERN LEBANON (MARCH 28, 2026) (REUTERS - Access all)

1. VARIOUS OF DAMAGED MEDIA EQUIPMENT INCLUDING CAMERA TRIPODS AND BAGS ON GROUND

2. BURNT AND HEAVILY DAMAGED CAR

3. DEBRIS INCLUDING CAMERA TRIPODS AND TWO PROTECTIVE VESTS, LABELLED (Arabic): “PRESS”

4. HEAVILY DAMAGED CAR

5. (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) AL MAYADEEN TV REPORTER, JAMAL AL-GHARABI, SAYING:

“This is Israel. This is the reality of Israel when it targets media colleagues. The word ‘Press’ is written in all major languages. Who is protecting them? Where are the regulations and international laws? Where is the freedom of expression the West claims, along with some organisations that boast about freedom? Let the whole world know that Israel is killing indiscriminately – children, civilians, and journalists. This is the reality of Israel that the world should see.”

6. VARIOUS OF MEDIA EQUIPMENT, PRESS VESTS AND HELMET ON GROUND AMONG DEBRIS

7. HEAVILY DAMAGED CAR