Moscow: Russia has demanded a thorough investigation into the deaths of three journalists killed in an Israeli airstrike in southern Lebanon, urging that those accountable be brought to justice and calling for an end to what it described as a “bloody practice.”

According to Anadolu Agency, the Russian Foreign Ministry expressed its deepest condolences to the families and friends of the deceased journalists through a statement on Telegram. The ministry emphasized that the journalists were traveling in a civilian vehicle clearly marked with press insignias when they were struck. Despite these markings, they fell victim to a precision-guided munitions attack.

The Russian Foreign Ministry accused Israel of attempting to evade responsibility for what it termed a “serious crime,” dismissing Israeli claims that terrorists posing as journalists were among those targeted. The ministry pointed to a similar incident just ten days earlier, where an RT television crew narrowly escaped a comparable attack.

On Friday, the ministry took action by summoning Israeli Ambassador Oded Joseph, issuing a strong protest over the airstrike that wounded RT journalists in Lebanon. Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova characterized the attack as “targeted,” highlighting that it was carried out on unarmed civilians who are protected under international humanitarian law as journalists. She noted that the journalists were clearly identified with press jackets and carried only cameras and microphones, and that the attack took place in a civilian area devoid of military targets.