Beirut: Lebanon announced that Israeli forces have besieged two journalists in the southern town of At-Tiri in Bint Jbeil and obstructed the Red Cross from accessing them, as reported by the state news agency.

According to Anadolu Agency, the National News Agency (NNA) stated that 'Israeli occupation forces are besieging journalists Amal Khalil and Zeinab Faraj, and preventing the Red Cross and the Lebanese army from reaching them.' This incident occurred following an Israeli airstrike targeting a vehicle in the same town, resulting in the deaths of two individuals inside.

NNA later updated that 'several people, including journalists,' sustained injuries in a subsequent airstrike on At-Tiri, though the number of casualties was not specified. The agency further reported that an Israeli strike targeted the main road connecting At-Tiri with Haddatha, aiming to obstruct ambulance teams from reaching the journalists.

Lebanese Information Minister Paul Morcos conveyed that he is liaising with the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) and the Lebanese army concerning 'the incident of Israeli occupation forces besieging journalists and photographers in the town of At-Tiri.' On the US social media platform X, Morcos expressed condemnation of the attack, holding Israel accountable for the journalists' safety and emphasizing the necessity of ensuring their protection and the freedom of media work.

Additionally, the head of the Lebanese Editors Syndicate, Joseph El Kosseifi, criticized Israel's actions against journalists and photographers, assigning responsibility to Israel for their safety. In a subsequent breaking update, NNA announced that the Red Cross had successfully reached At-Tiri to evacuate the two besieged journalists, though no further details were provided.