Lebanon says Israel ‘besieging journalists’ after attack on southern town

Lebanon’s Information Minister Paul Morcos has slammed the Israeli regime for “besieging journalists and photographers” following attacks in the town of at-Tiri in the country’s south.

“We strongly condemn this assault, holding Israel fully responsible for their safety, and affirming the necessity of immediately ensuring their protection and guaranteeing freedom of media work,” Morcos said on X.

This comes as Israeli forces continue to carry out attacks in Lebanon in violation of the 10-day ceasefire announced on Thursday.

Two people were killed and several others wounded in an Israeli attack on the southern town of Yahmar al-Shaqif on Wednesday.

Israeli forces also carried out “a violent bombing” in the town of Qantara.

US President Donald Trump announced the ceasefire during a White House address on Thursday, saying the truce would take effect at midnight Lebanon time.

A Lebanese parliamentarian affirmed that the agreement was the result of Iranian diplomatic efforts.

According to a government estimate, Israeli attacks have damaged or destroyed over 62,000 housing units in Lebanon since the regime intensified its strikes on the country early in March.

“Within about 45 days, we had 21,700 destroyed housing units and 40,500 damaged housing units,” Chadi Abdallah, head of the National Council for Scientific Research (CNRS), said.

The CNRS also estimates that “428 housing units were destroyed and 50 were damaged” during the first three days of the ceasefire, he added.

Lebanese Environment Minister Tamara Zein also stressed that Israel’s strikes did not spare residential neighborhoods, civilian infrastructure and places of worship, and inflicted damage on large agricultural and forested areas.

Since the resumption of fighting between Israel and Hezbollah on March 2, Israeli attacks have killed more than 2,400 people and displaced more than a million.

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