Israeli army on AFP research: Journalists "in active combat zone" during shelling in Lebanon
The army spokesman also pointed out that the Israeli army had asked the UN mission Unifil in Lebanon the previous day "to verify that there were no civilians in the combat zone".
On October 13, the day of the shelling, the pro-Iranian Hezbollah militia allied with the radical Islamic Hamas in Lebanon "launched an attack on several targets in Israeli territory along the Lebanese border", the army added. The armed forces responded with artillery and tank attacks. Israel wanted to prevent "a possible infiltration of terrorists" from Lebanon into Israel.
The AFP investigation published in Paris on Thursday revealed that the journalists had been hit by a 120-millimeter tank shell, which is used solely by the Israeli army in the region. An investigation by the Reuters news agency, also published on Thursday, also came to the conclusion that it was Israeli tank fire.
Reuters video reporter Issam Abdallah was killed in the shelling on October 13. Six other journalists were injured in a total of two explosions: AFP photographer Christina Assi and her video colleague Dylan Collins, two employees of the Al-Jazeera television station and two other Reuters journalists. Assi was seriously injured. She is still in hospital and had to have her right leg amputated.
The journalists had been on the border with Israel to report on the armed clashes in the border region following the brutal attack on Israel by the radical Islamic group Hamas on October 7. The group was met near the border village of Alma al-Shaab, where clashes have been occurring almost daily.
AFP worked with the British non-governmental organization Airwars, which investigates attacks on civilians in armed conflicts, to investigate the attack. A fragment of ammunition, satellite images, witness statements and videos, including from experts, were analyzed for the investigation.
AFP information director Phil Chetwynd said it was "absolutely vital that we get answers from Israel". AFP will use all available legal means "to ensure that justice is done for Christina and Issam".
On Thursday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken described it as "important and appropriate" to conduct "a comprehensive and thorough investigation". Immediately after the October 13 attack, an Israeli military spokesman said the army regretted the journalist's death and would investigate the incident.
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- The Israeli army stated that AFP journalists were operating "in an active combat zone" during the shelling in Lebanon, according to their research.
- The UN mission Unifil in Lebanon was asked by the Israeli army the previous day to confirm the absence of civilians in the combat zone.
- The pro-Iranian Hezbollah militia, allied with Hamas in Lebanon, attacked several targets in Israeli territory along the Lebanese border on October 13, as reported by the army.
- Christina Assi, an AFP photographer, and her video colleague Dylan Collins were among the six journalists injured in the shelling in South Lebanon, which was also covered by Reuters.
- Issam Abdallah, a Reuters video reporter, was killed in the same shelling incident, and Assi had to have her right leg amputated due to her injuries.
- The investigation led by AFP in Paris revealed that the journalists were hit by a 120-millimeter tank shell, which only the Israeli army uses in the region.
- The Reuters news agency also concluded that the shelling was likely carried out by Israeli tanks, which were responding to the Hezbollah attacks.
- The armed forces of Israel wanted to prevent potential infiltrations by terrorists from Lebanon into Israel, prompting the shelling and subsequent clashes.
- AFP is pursuing answers from Israel and will use all legal means to ensure justice for Christina Assi and Issam Abdallah, according to AFP Information Director Phil Chetwynd.
- The US Secretary of State Antony Blinken expressed his belief in conducting a thorough and comprehensive investigation into the incident, echoing the Israeli army's initial statement of regret and intention to investigate.
Source: www.stern.de
