WASHINGTON: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has said that killing of Reuters journalist in Lebanon must be ‘thoroughly probed’. He spoke shortly following Reuters news agency reported that its reporter Issam Abdallah was killed by Israeli tank fire in southern Lebanon on Oct. 13.
The US Secretary of State said that it is significant and appropriate that the killing must be fully and thoroughly probed. Blinken added and it will be significant to see that probe come to a conclusion and to see the outcomes of the investigation.
Blinken Says Killing of Journalist in Lebanon must be Investigated
After an investigation, Human Rights Watch stated that the killing appeared to be deliberate. A probe by AFP published Thursday into the attack, which killed Reuters reporter Issam Abdallah and injured six others, including two from AFP, points to a tank explosive only used by the Israeli military in the border region. AFP photographer Christina Assi had a leg amputated and is still in hospital for medical treatment.
Jointly carried out an NGO that probes attacks on civilian population in conflict zones, the probe found that the strike involved a 120-mm tank projectile only used by the Israeli military in this area.
The investigation found that the attacks likely came from the Israeli village of Jordeikh where Israeli tanks were operational.
