Araghchi slams Israeli killing of Lebanese journalists as attempt to ‘assassinate truth’

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has strongly condemned the assassination of three prominent Lebanese journalists in an Israeli drone strike, saying that the Tel Aviv regime’s main goal is to “assassinate truth.”

“The martyrdom of Ali Shuaib, Mohammed Fatouni and Fatima Fatouni, the courageous correspondents of al-Manar and al-Mayadeen television channels, in a terrorist attack carried out by the cowardly Zionist regime, not only marks a deep wound on the regional and world media community, but also sounds a serious alarm for the global consciousness,” he wrote in a message published on Sunday.

He said that the move clearly constitutes a targeted assassination and stands much beyond the simple motive of eliminating certain individuals, adding that it is rather an explicit attempt to “assassinate truth and silence the voices which narrate facts.”

Araghchi noted that the Israeli regime has a long record of targeting members of the press, and the latest intentional and criminal act is in blatant violation of international law and conventions regarding the protection of journalists in conflict zones.

He stated that international regulations have failed to restrain the viciousness of the Israeli regime, and repetition of such crimes reveals the continuation of an aggressive approach aimed at limiting freedom of speech.

Voices from the frontline: Colleagues recall fearless legacy of slain Lebanese journalists

Speaking to Press TV, colleagues of slain journalists Ali Shoaib and Fatima Ftouni hailed them as indomitable war correspondents who fearlessly exposed Israeli crimes in South Lebanon.

The top Iranian diplomat vehemently censured the Israeli assassination of the Lebanese journalists and appealed for proper and effective international measures to protect correspondents and bring those responsible to justice.

He also expressed his most sincere condolences to the families of the victims and their colleagues over the tragic loss.

According to Lebanese media outlets, an Israeli drone fired at least four missiles at a sedan as it was traveling along a road on the outskirts of the town of Jezzine in southern Lebanon on Saturday afternoon, killing all three people onboard.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun strongly denounced the Israeli act of aggression, vowing that the Beirut government will explore all international channels to stop repeated attacks by the usurping regime on the Lebanese territories.

Palestinian resistance factions, particularly Hamas, also condemned the attack, saying it exposed the criminal approach being exercised by the occupying Israeli regime against journalists.

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