Reuters Journalist Killed In Southern Lebanon By Israeli Bomb

Civil Defense workers and a Lebanese security officer carry a journalist who was injured by Israeli shelling, at Alma al-Shaab border village with Israel, south Lebanon, Friday, Oct. 13, 2023. AP Photo/Hassan Ammar.

A Reuters journalist was killed and six others were wounded by an Israeli bomb in southern Lebanon, the Associated Press reported Friday.

Issam Abdallah, a videographer, and his crew were working to provide a live video signal in southern Lebanon when he was killed by shelling, Reuters said in a statement.

“We are deeply saddened to learn that our videographer, Issam Abdallah, has been killed,” Reuters said. “We are urgently seeking more information, working with authorities in the region, and supporting Issam’s family and colleagues.”

AP reported the bomb landed near a gathering of journalists:

An Israeli shell landed in a gathering of international journalists covering clashes on the border in south Lebanon on Friday, killing a Reuters videographer and leaving six other journalists injured.

An Associated Press photographer at the scene saw the body of Reuters videographer Issam Abdallah and the six who were wounded, some of whom were rushed to hospitals in ambulances. Images from the scene showed a charred car.

The region descended into violence on fire after Hamas launched an air, land, and sea invasion of Israel over the weekend, which prompted a full mobilization of Israel’s military and airstrikes against Gaza, ahead of what many believe is an imminent ground invasion.

Abdallah’s colleagues and fellow journalists took to social media to mourn him after news of his killing broke.

Issam Abdallah, a Reuters videographer and colleague, was killed when an shell hit near him and a group of journalists at Lebanon’s southern border earlier today.

Reuters statement below: pic.twitter.com/EeuPPHUbrE

— Timour Azhari (@timourazhari) October 13, 2023

Devastating news. Our colleague Issam Abdallah was killed while working on the Israel-Lebanon border today.
Two other colleagues Thaer Al-Sudani and Maher Nazeh have been injured. pic.twitter.com/9w0ZmV3wQL

— Andrew MacAskill (@AndyMacaskill) October 13, 2023

Reuters confirmed two of the journalists wounded by the bomb are Thaer Al-Sudani and Maher Nazeh.

Two Al Jazeera journalists, Karmen Jokhadar and Eli Brakhia, were also wounded in the strike. The two crews had reportedly been traveling together near the the border area and were wearing jackets as well as helmets identifying them as press.

The last video Issam shot was posted to X shortly before his death with the caption “bombing in the vicinity of Alma Al-Shaab – southern Lebanon.”

قصف في محيط علما الشعب – جنوب لبنان pic.twitter.com/jtbeGSH1Jy

— Issam Abdallah – عصام العبدالله (@LbIssam) October 13, 2023

This story has been updated with additional information.