IFJ Mourns Loss of Journalist Killed in Lebanon Border Clash

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) today said that the killing of a journalist in clashes between Israeli and the Lebanese troops has highlighted the continuing dangers facing journalists trying to cover the world's longest-running conflict.

Assaf Abu Rahhal, 55 years old and working for Lebanon's Al-Akhbar newspaper, was reportedly killed today in the fighting which erupted along the Israel-Lebanon border. He was killed when an isreali shell landed next to him.

Another journalist, Ali Sheaib a reporter for the Lebanese TV outlet Al-Manar was wounded in the exchange of fire which left three Lebanese soldiers dead.

"After years of relative calm, this outbreak of violence illustrates just how dangerous covering any corner of Arab-Israeli conflict can be," said Aidan White, IFJ General Secretary. "Journalists and media can never be safe as long as governments fail to respect their rights to report freely."

The media casualty is the first since freelance photographer Layal Najib was killed in the war between Hezbollah and Israel in 2006.

"This killing is another tragic moment for media in a conflict that has provided many examples of the sacrifice that journalists make to cover this story," said White. "It is ever-more important that all sides take note of the need to respect international law and the rights of non-combatants, including journalists."

For more information contact the IFJ at   +32 235 2207

The IFJ represents over 600,000 journalists in 125 countries worldwide