Lebanon – March 19, 2026 – An Israeli airstrike on a residential building in the Zuqaq al-Blat area of Beirut on 18 March 2026 killed journalist Mohammed Sherri, Director of Political Programs at Al-Manar TV, along with his wife, and injured several members of his family.

The strike forms part of a series of attacks affecting journalists and media workers amid ongoing hostilities.

According to media reports reviewed, Israeli forces struck the residential building, resulting in the deaths of Sherri and his wife and injuring several family members, including his children and grandchildren. Among the injured was his son, Yasser, an editor at Al-Etejah TV.

This incident follows a similar Israeli strike days earlier that killed Lebanese photographer and director Mohammed Shehab and his young daughter, while leaving his wife critically wounded. These incidents reflect a pattern of attacks affecting journalists and media professionals.

Such attacks constitute serious violations of international humanitarian law. Journalists are civilians and are protected under the 1949 Geneva Conventions and Additional Protocol I, unless and for such time as they directly participate in hostilities. Targeting civilians and civilian objects, including journalists, violates the principles of distinction and proportionality. These acts also contravene United Nations Security Council Resolution 2222 on the protection of journalists in conflict zones and may amount to war crimes under Article 8 of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court.

The broader context indicates a significant escalation in violence. Between 2 and 18 March 2026, Israeli attacks on Lebanon reportedly killed 968 people and injured many others. Military operations and evacuation orders issued by Israeli forces, particularly in Beirut’s southern suburbs, have displaced at least 816,000 civilians.

Earlier Israeli military operations between 2023 and November 2024 resulted in more than 4,000 deaths and approximately 17,000 injuries prior to a ceasefire agreement announced on 27 November 2024. According to Lebanon’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, that agreement was violated more than 1,036 times in the following three months. Hostilities resumed on 2 March 2026.

Since October 2023, journalists in Palestine and Lebanon have faced escalating risks, including killings, injuries, and restrictions on access. Documentation indicates that more than 260 journalists have been killed in Gaza, along with 706 of their family members, in addition to at least 15 journalists killed in Lebanon and dozens more injured. These patterns have significantly affected the ability of media professionals to operate safely and have undermined public access to information.

The deliberate targeting of journalists constitutes a grave breach of international humanitarian law and reflects a systematic effort to silence media coverage and obstruct documentation. Such violations engage international legal responsibility and require accountability.

Immediate action is required. The international community, including the United Nations and relevant human rights mechanisms, must initiate independent and transparent investigations into attacks targeting journalists in Lebanon and ensure accountability for those responsible.

States must take urgent measures to protect journalists and media workers in conflict zones and to ensure full respect for international humanitarian law. Efforts must also focus on preventing further violations and safeguarding civilians.

The protection of civilians, including journalists, is a binding legal obligation. Ensuring accountability and preventing impunity are essential to upholding the rule of law and protecting the right to truth.

Released by:

Women Journalists Without Chains

March 19, 2026