IRIB condemns killing of al-Alam journalist by Israel in southern Lebanon

The head of the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB), Peyman Jebelli, and IRIB’s World Service have strongly condemned the assassination of Hesam Zidan, a former correspondent of Iran’s al-Alam TV channel in Syria, who was killed in a recent Israeli strike in southern Lebanon.

In a message released on Thursday, Jebelli said that “the martyrdom of Zidan, a courageous warrior of the news field and determined journalist of the resistance media in the criminal aggression of the Zionists against Sidon, once again revealed the ugly face and evil nature of the usurping Israeli regime.”

He added that Israel is determined to target journalists who expose alleged crimes committed by its forces across the region.

“The Zionist regime’s insistence on the targeted assassination of journalists is a sign of the desperate fear of this symbol of darkness (Israeli entity) from the light of truth,” he said.

He further stated that “a degenerate regime knows full well that the martyrdom of Zidan and other pioneers of honour and high human dignity is not the end, but the beginning of the triumph of resistance.”

Jebelli also offered condolences to Zidan’s family, the regional media community, and “all truth-seeking journalists.”

Prominent Lebanese journalist killed in Israeli strike in southern Lebanon

A renowned Lebanese journalist and executive producer has been killed when an Israeli airstrike hit a car in the Iqlim al-Tuffah district in southern Lebanon.

In a separate statement, IRIB’s World Service said that “the martyrdom of this dear colleague following the Israeli regime’s airstrike on the city of Sidon in southern Lebanon once again revealed its criminal nature.”

It added that the Israeli regime has “no respect for the lives of civilians and media personnel, and directly targets and suppresses the voice of truth.”

The statement described Zidan as “a noble and professional journalist who spent years of his life on the front lines of telling the truth, defending the oppressed, and honestly reflecting developments in the region.”

It noted that Zidan, who served as a correspondent for the al-Alam Network in Syria since 2009, covered developments across Aleppo, Hama, and Deir Ezzor “with an unparalleled presence on the ground during the most difficult days of the crisis.”

“He was among the journalists who carried out his professional mission not from behind the news desk, but from the front lines and heart of the field.”

According to the statement, Zidan later continued his work as a news editor in Tehran following developments in Syria.

“He remained steadfast in raising awareness and defending the truth until the last moments of his noble life.”

“We at IRIB’s World Service, while condemning this blatant crime, offer our condolences to the family of martyr Zidan, his media colleagues, the people of Lebanon and Syria, and all free people of the world,” it said.

According to a February report by a monitoring website, Shireen.ps, Israel has killed nearly 300 journalists and media workers since the start of its genocidal war in the besieged Palestinian territory in October 2023.

Press TV’s website can also be accessed at the following alternate addresses:

www.presstv.ir