Funerals held for Al Mayadeen journalists killed by Israeli strike in Lebanon

Journalists in Lebanon have expressed concern that Israel is intentionally targeting media personnel

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Hundreds of mourners on Wednesday attended the funeral of two Al Mayadeen journalists killed by an Israeli strike while reporting in southern Lebanon.

The group met at the Al Mayadeen headquarters to pray over the coffins of correspondent Farah Omar and cameraman Rabih Al Maamari, who were killed on Tuesday while reporting on border clashes between Israel and Hezbollah near the town of Tayr Harfa, about 6km from the Lebanese border with Israel.

Their guide, Hussein Aqeel, was also killed.

Funeral attendees ululated and scattered rice over the coffins of Ms Omar and Mr Maamari.

“Farah always had a smile on her face in the studio, no matter what,” said Al Mayadeen’s correspondent as he covered the event live. “And Rabih’s only weapon was a camera.”

Rabih Al Mamaari and Farah Omar. Photo: WAFA

Israel and Hezbollah have scaled up their attacks, exchanging numerous missiles and munitions, though the conflict has fallen short of full-scale war.

Tuesday’s violence was the deadliest so far, with at least eight people killed in Israeli strikes on southern Lebanon – four of whom were civilians, among them the two media workers.

A senior commander in the Al Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of the Hezbollah-allied Hamas movement that controls the Gaza Strip, was also killed, the group confirmed.

“There is no doubt that Al Mayadeen, in our coverage of this war, we were targeted,” head of the network Ghassan Bin Jiddo said.

“The fact is that all of our colleagues who are stationed in the south are all aware of this matter.”

Rabih Al Maamari's damaged camera in front of the site of the strike at the Lebanese border village of Tair Harfa. AP Photo

Journalists in Lebanon have expressed concern that Israel is intentionally targeting media workers.

At Al Mayadeen's headquarters, as mourners gathered to pray before the funeral processions, Ms Omar's father Hossam called his daughter's death a "crime of the Israeli occupation to discourage and deter media professionals from their role".

“Farah was martyred but I hope that you will increase your determination and that there will be a thousand Farahs,” he added.

On October 13, Reuters journalist Issam Abdallah was killed by an Israeli strike on the southern Lebanese town of Alma Al Shaab, as a group of journalists gathered to cover clashes between Israel and Hezbollah from afar.

Six other journalists from Reuters, Al Jazeera and AFP were also injured.

Exactly a month after Mr Abdallah’s death, on November 13, a large group of journalists working for various outlets was nearly struck by Israeli artillery while covering clashes in the village of Yaroun.

Mourners in Beirut with the coffins of two journalists from Lebanon-based Al Mayadeen TV reportedly killed by an Israeli strike in southern Lebanon on Tuesday. Reuters

Mourners at the funeral of the two journalists outside Al Mayadeen TV's building in Beirut. AFP

Basma mourns her brother Rabih al-Memari, a cameraman who was killed with Al Mayadeen correspondent Farah Omar by what the channel said was an Israeli strike on Tuesday. Reuters

Civil defence members carry the coffins of the two journalists before the funeral, in Beirut. Reuters

Mourners outside Al Mayadeen TV's building in Beirut. AFP

The father of cameraman Rabih Maamari faints during his son's funeral. AFP

Chairman of Al Mayadeen TV, Ghassan bin Jiddo, centre, at the funeral. AFP

Mourners throw flowers during the funeral in Beirut. EPA

Relatives and friends of Farah Omar and Rabih Al Maamari mourn at their funeral outside the Al Mayadeen TV channel headquarters in Beirut. EPA

A colleague of the two journalists who were killed. EPA

Colleagues and relatives of the killed journalists gather beside Lebanese Red Cross ambulances bearing the bodies of the two men. EPA

Ghassan bin Jiddo, chairman of Al Mayadeen TV, speaks to journalists outside the channel's building in Beirut. Reuters

Relatives of a journalist of one of the men killed by an Israeli strike mourn at a hospital in Beirut. AP

A Lebanese Hezbollah rescuer with a bullet-proof vest that belonged to Al-Mayadeen journalists killed in the village of Tair Harfa, south Lebanon. AFP