Funeral Held for Journalists Killed in Israeli Strike Near Beirut

A funeral was held in Lebanon for three journalists – veteran correspondent Ali Sweid, Fatimah Ftoun, and her brother Mohammad Ftoun – who were killed by an Israeli strike in southern Lebanon. Beirut denounced the incident as a “flagrant crime.” The Israeli military claimed Sweid was linked to Hezbollah, which has not been proven. The funeral took place in a temporary cemetery near Beirut, attended by hundreds of people, with Hezbollah flags waving. The President of Lebanon condemned the deaths, while the French Foreign Minister stressed that journalists should never be a target. The Committee to Protect Journalists has recorded at least 11 Lebanese journalists killed by Israeli strikes since 2023.