WANA (Mar 28) – The spokesperson for Iran’s Foreign Ministry, Esmaeil Baghaei, has strongly condemned what he described as a terrorist act by Israel involving a drone strike on a vehicle carrying Lebanese journalists in southern Lebanon.
According to the statement, the attack resulted in the deaths of Ali Shaib, a prominent correspondent for Al-Manar; Fatima Ftouni, a well-known reporter for Al-Mayadeen; and Mohammad Ftouni, a cameraman for the same network.
Baghaei pointed to what he described as hundreds of attacks against journalists and cameramen in the “occupied Palestinian territories” and Lebanon—particularly over the past three years.
He stressed that targeting journalists constitutes a grave violation of fundamental principles of international humanitarian law, as outlined in the Geneva Conventions, and represents a clear example of both a war crime and a crime against humanity.
He further claimed that Israel continues such actions under what he called full impunity, supported politically and in the media by the United States and some other Western countries.
The Foreign Ministry spokesperson extended condolences to the families of the victims, their colleagues at Al-Mayadeen and Al-Manar, members of the media, and the people and government of Lebanon.
He also emphasized the shared responsibility of the international community to hold Israel accountable and ensure punishment for what he described as these crimes.