Lebanese President Joseph Aoun has paid tribute to journalists killed in attacks attributed to Israel, marking the country’s annual Martyrs’ Day commemoration and highlighting what he described as media workers “deliberately targeted” for reporting from conflict zones.
In a statement cited by Al Jazeera, Aoun honoured media professionals killed during recent hostilities, saying they had “refused anything but to convey the reality on the ground, paying with their lives for a sacred message.”
“Their blood stands as testimony that the Lebanese word cannot be defeated,” he said.
Martyrs’ Day is observed annually in Lebanon to honour those who were executed or killed for resisting Ottoman rule, but it has also evolved into a broader national remembrance for individuals who lost their lives in political violence and conflict.
The president’s remarks come amid ongoing regional tensions, where journalists operating in conflict areas have increasingly come under threat, drawing repeated international concern over press safety and violations of international humanitarian law.
Lebanese authorities have previously accused Israel of targeting media personnel during military operations, allegations Israel has consistently denied in similar contexts.