Israeli Airstrike in Lebanon That Killed Journalists Used US-Made Weapons, HRW Finds

Beirut (Quds News Network)- Human Rights Watch (HRW) revealed that an Israeli airstrike in southern Lebanon on October 25, 2024, which killed three journalists and injured four others, involved a US-manufactured weapon. According to HRW, the attack was likely a deliberate strike on civilians and constitutes an apparent war crime.

The investigation confirmed that Israeli forces deployed an air-dropped bomb equipped with a Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) guidance kit, made by US companies. HRW has called for the suspension of US arms transfers to Israel, citing repeated violations of international law and the risk of complicity in war crimes.

Targeted Attack on Journalists

The early morning strike hit the Hasbaya Village Club Resort, a location where more than a dozen journalists had been staying for weeks. HRW found no evidence of military activity in the area at the time of the attack. The resort was well-known as a base for reporters covering the conflict, and many of the vehicles on-site were marked with “Press” or “TV” labels.

The strike killed Al Mayadeen TV journalists Ghassan Najjar and Mohammad Reda, as well as Wissam Kassem of Al Manar TV. Survivors described the devastating impact, with one journalist recounting how the blast threw him across the room. The building was completely destroyed, and nearby structures were severely damaged.

Pattern of Israeli Violence Against the Media

This incident is part of a broader pattern of attacks on journalists in the region. HRW documented six Lebanese journalists killed by Israeli strikes since October 2023. These include an October 13, 2023, attack that killed Reuters journalist Issam Abdallah and an October 23 strike that destroyed the Beirut office of Al Mayadeen TV.

HRW emphasized that journalists are civilians under international law and cannot be targeted. The deliberate or reckless targeting of journalists, HRW stated, amounts to a war crime.

Evidence of US Weapons

HRW’s investigation included interviews with survivors, video and photo analysis, and on-site visits. Fragments of the bomb recovered from the scene matched components of a JDAM guidance kit, a US-made system designed for precision strikes. The organization also noted that drones had been surveilling the area in the weeks leading up to the attack, further indicating that the Israeli military was aware of the journalists’ presence.

HRW urged the US to suspend military aid to Israel, highlighting its legal obligation to prevent the misuse of American-made weapons. Richard Weir, a senior researcher at HRW, criticized the role of US arms, stating, “Israel’s use of US arms to unlawfully attack and kill journalists away from any military target is a terrible mark on the United States as well as Israel.”

The report called on Israel’s allies, including the US, UK, and Germany, to suspend arms sales to Israel due to the risk of their use in grave abuses.

As evidence of violations mounts, HRW warned that without accountability, attacks on journalists and other civilians will likely continue unchecked.

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