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Al-Ahram Weekly
3 days ago
- Politics
- Al-Ahram Weekly
From Gaza to Tehran, why journalists are frontline targets in the Middle East - Region
As missiles rain down and cameras go dark, a new front in modern warfare has emerged: the systematic targeting of journalists. From Tehran to Gaza, media workers are being bombed, shot, and silenced—not for what they've done, but for what they dare to show. On 16 June, broadcaster Sahar Emami was halfway through her evening bulletin when the building shook. The missile struck like thunder. The lights blew out. Smoke filled the room. Somewhere down the corridor, someone screamed. An Israeli airstrike had just hit the compound of Iran's state broadcaster, IRIB, in Tehran. Emami paused only briefly, running for cover as the shockwaves intensified. She returned to her chair moments later—composed, defiant—and resumed the live broadcast. File Photo: A snapshot of Broadcaster Sahar Emami after an Israeli strike hit the building. The attack killed producer Masoumeh Azimi and news editor Nima Rajabpour. Many others were wounded. "This was part of a plan to destroy 'the regime's symbols,'" American-Iranian journalist, formerly based in Beirut, Séamus Malekafzali told Ahram Online. "If they can stop IRIB from broadcasting and kill its reporters, they can prevent the state from informing people about what is happening in their own country." "It has a chilling effect on going back to work and on associating oneself with its reporters," he added. The strike on IRIB was part of a growing Israeli strategy of targeting "hostile" media infrastructure. Iran responded with missiles aimed at Israel's Channel 14 and Channel 12. The strike caused structural damage but no casualties. Iran's government labelled Channel 14 a "terror network" tied to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition. Israel condemned the attack as a strike against civilian media. But in Tehran, the questions had already shifted. "We heard the bombs around us, our windows shook, and we kept working," wrote Iranian journalist Ruhollah Nakhaee to Ahram Online. "Some of us had to move our families out of Tehran and return to work alone." "They [the West] brushed off IRIB being hit because it's state TV," he said. "The BBC is state TV. The VOA is state TV. Would anyone react the same if they were targeted? I'm very aware that if any of our offices are hit, no one will ask why. And even if they do, it won't matter." The language of international law offers no protection, he adds. "After all Israel has done with blanket support from the West, terms like 'international law' mean nothing here. They never did." Cross-border attacks and the information war File Photo: Reuters video journalist Issam Abdallah. Photo courtesy of social media. The strike on IRIB reflects a growing pattern of Israeli attacks on journalists in the region. On 13 October 2023, the Israeli army opened tank fire on seven reporters clearly marked as press while filming on a hillside near Alma Al-Shaab, southern Lebanon. Reuters video journalist Issam Abdallah was killed. AFP photojournalist Christina Assi lost her leg. Five others were injured. Investigations by AFP, Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, and the United Nations all concluded the strike was deliberate. "Despite extensive evidence of a war crime … Israel has faced zero accountability," said Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) President Jodie Ginsberg in a 2024 report. "All over Palestine and in southern Lebanon, the primary aim of assassinating all these journalists has been to prevent the dissemination of what is happening on these fronts to the rest of the world," Malekafzali said. "They attack reporters no matter what network they're from … as long as they are focused on exposing Israeli atrocities." Reporting from the front lines in Gaza and the West Bank File Photo: A Palestinian woman holds the body of her son, killed in an Israeli strike. Photo courtesy of Salma Al-Qaddoumi's Instagram. By the second month of the ongoing genocide, Gaza had already become the world's most dangerous environment for journalists. On a blistering August morning, journalists Ibrahim Muhareb, Salma Al-Qaddoumi, Ezzedine Muasher, Rasha Ahmed, and Saeed Al-Lulu were documenting displacement in Gaza's Hamad City when an Israeli tank opened fire. Muhareb was shot in the leg. Al-Qaddoumi and her friend Mahmoud rushed to carry him to safety. "But snipers opened fire on us. Ibrahim [Muhareb] was killed. Mahmoud was wounded. I was shot in the back—the bullet exited near my heart. I was clearly marked as press. I wore my vest. And yet, they aimed at us deliberately," Al-Qaddoumi told Ahram Online. Since October 2023, at least 226 journalists have been killed, 430 injured, 48 detained, and 119 media offices or institutions destroyed in Palestine—mostly in Gaza—according to the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate (PJS). The PJS also reported that the number of journalists killed represents nearly 20 percent of all Palestinian journalists. "For over twenty months, we've tried to deliver Gaza's image to the world," says Al-Qaddoumi. "But we are exhausted—physically, emotionally, spiritually. We are weary of capturing massacres, of photographing shredded bodies." "Gaza needed its story told. The displacement was relentless, the bombing spared no neighbourhood, and there simply weren't enough journalists to document every massacre," she explained. Al-Qaddoumi was nearly killed doing just that. File Photo: A woman holding her children's hands, with several Israeli Army vehicles behind her in Jenin, the occupied West Bank. Photo courtesy of Obada Tahayna's Instagram . In the northern West Bank, Obada Tahayna, Jenin-based correspondent for Al Jazeera and Free Palestine TV, faces the same threat. "In Jenin, being a journalist is extremely hazardous. Every day could be my last," Tahayna told Ahram Online. Since 21 January, Israel has carried out its most expansive military operation in the West Bank since 2002. "The vest no longer offers protection," Tahayna says. "It's a target. The occupation forces recognise it. That makes you a target for attack, pursuit, and detention." He has been beaten, detained, and had his phone confiscated—but persists. "If we fall silent, it would be as if nothing ever occurred." Media coverage of the West Bank was severely curtailed after Israel closed the Al Jazeera media office in Ramallah last September. When did journalists become targets of war? The deliberate targeting of media workers has become increasingly systematic. In 2001, the United States bombed Al Jazeera's Kabul office during its invasion of Afghanistan. In 2003, it struck the network's Baghdad bureau, killing Palestinian correspondent Tareq Ayyoub. Both incidents were never meaningfully investigated. In 2007, leaked US military footage—later published by WikiLeaks as "Collateral Murder"—showed a helicopter crew killing civilians, including two Reuters journalists in Iraq, laughing as they opened fire. In asymmetric conflicts, especially in the digital age, narrative warfare is as decisive as territory. "The Israeli narrative spreads rapidly and is presented as the sole truth," Tahayna says. The journalist thus becomes not just an observer but a counter-narrator. "The Palestinian journalist does not merely transmit news. He is part of the event itself—threatened, under pressure, yet resolute. Perhaps the world doesn't realise how much we risk so people may see—not for personal gain." Today, journalists are increasingly seen as affiliates, particularly those working for national broadcasters, local agencies, or partisan outlets. Their presence challenges the monopoly of official narratives, and their footage often outpaces state messaging. The limits of international protection Despite protections under international humanitarian law, its application remains inconsistent. The 2002 killing of Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl sparked global outrage and immediate diplomatic pressure. The US government launched high-level investigations, resulting in arrests and convictions. File Photo: Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh. AFP By contrast, the killing of Shireen Abu Akleh in 2022—filmed, verified, and acknowledged even by Western allies—has led only to prolonged inquiries, tepid statements, and no justice. Journalists from the Global South are often seen not as independent professionals but as extensions of their geographic or political contexts. Groups such as Reporters Sans Frontières (RSF), the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), and CPJ continue to track deaths, demand inquiries, and issue press freedom alerts. However, much of their work yields only expressions of solidarity, rather than justice. Malekafzali summed it up: "Reporters can be maimed, killed, obliterated … but they will always be fundamentally untrustworthy to the West unless they've been granted access to its vaulted institutions." "The Israeli victims are foregrounded," he stressed. "We know many of their names by now, even if we don't live there. But we rarely know about the Palestinians, Lebanese, and now Iranians killed by the Israeli army—except as numbers in the death toll." "We will not be silenced" Despite the risks, journalists continue working—not because they are safe, but because the world needs their voices. "If I could capture just one photo that carries my voice to the world," Al-Qaddoumi says, "I would want it to show Gaza's beauty—the children, the youth, the women. Gaza is full of talent, creativity, brilliance. And yet many of those vibrant young people are now amputees—or martyrs. Why? For what crime?" "To me, photography is an act of resistance. It is documentation. It is a message of steadfastness. We are here, on the ground. And we will not be silenced," she concludes. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
Shafaq News
24-06-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
"Symbolic" Israeli strikes hit Iran despite Trump's ceasefire
Shafaq News/ Israeli warplanes carried out limited strikes on Iran targeting a radar installation near Tehran and a military facility in the northern city of Babolsar, Iranian and Israeli media reported on Tuesday. The operation came after a phone call between US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Israeli broadcasters Channel 14 and Kan noted that the attack was initially planned as a broader operation but was scaled back following Trump's urging for restraint, resulting in what it is described as a ''symbolic strike.'' Meanwhile, Iranian state media reported explosions in Mazandaran's Babolsar, where air defenses were activated, and in northern Tehran, where at least two blasts were heard. Iranian authorities have not immediately confirmed any casualties or damage. This attack comes amid US President Donald Trump criticizing both Iran and Israel for violating a ceasefire he had announced earlier in the day, warning that any further breaches would carry serious consequences. 'I'm not pleased with either of them,' he remarked during a press appearance, urging Israel not to drop more bombs and describing such actions as 'a major violation.'
Al-Ahram Weekly
24-06-2025
- Politics
- Al-Ahram Weekly
🔴LIVE UPDATES: Israeli warplanes strike two sites in Iran despite Trump warning to Tel Aviv - Region
14:50 Iranian media reported two explosions north of Tehran and another in the city of Babolsar, in Mazandaran Province, prompting the activation of Iranian air defences. According to Axios, citing an Israeli official, US President Donald Trump called Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and urged him not to launch any attack on Iran. Netanyahu reportedly told Trump he could not cancel the planned strike, insisting that a response was necessary following what Israel claimed was an Iranian violation of the ceasefire. Israeli Army Radio said the air force targeted a radar facility near Tehran in what it described as a symbolic strike. Channel 14 reported the military installation was hit shortly after Trump publicly instructed Israel to call off its bombing plans. Israeli media later quoted security sources saying the incident had concluded and that the ceasefire between Israel and Iran was now in effect. 14:30 President Trump posts Israeli jetfighters on their way to attack Iran, but they will not do so and will return! Earlier, Trump issued a warning to Israel on his Truth Social platform. He says the country should not carry out strikes. 14:00 The US president wrote: "ISRAEL. DO NOT DROP THOSE BOMBS. IF YOU DO IT IS A MAJOR VIOLATION. BRING YOUR PILOTS HOME, NOW!" The warning follows an agreed ceasefire between Iran and Israel, which came into effect early this morning. Trump said both Israel and Iran violated a ceasefire he announced hours earlier, and he was not happy with either country, but especially Israel. Speaking to reporters before leaving for the Nato summit in The Hague, Trump said Israel 'unloaded' right after agreeing to the deal. Trump said the country's nuclear capacities are gone and it would never rebuild its nuclear programme. US President Donald Trump said that Israel has to 'calm down' after he said both Israel and Iran violated a ceasefire he tried to broker. 'I gotta get Israel to calm down now,' Trump said as he left the White House, Reuters reported. 'Israel, as soon as we made the deal, they came out and they dropped a load of bombs, the likes of which I've never seen before, the biggest load that we've seen." 'We basically have two countries that have been fighting so long and so hard that they don't know what the f**k they're doing.' 13:45 Iran's health minister says 606 people have been killed in Israeli strikes since 13 June, Iranian media report. More than 5,000 people have been injured and are receiving medical care, Mohammad Reza Zafarghani says. The minister also says Iran has seen its worst attacks in the past 24 hours, with 107 people killed, as reported by the BBC. 13:30 Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani persuaded Iran to accept a US-proposed ceasefire with Israel after Iranian missiles struck near the American-run Al Udeid base outside Doha, a source familiar with the talks told AFP. Al-Thani contacted Iranian officials at Washington's request following Monday's unprecedented attack on Qatari soil, the source said. 'In the aftermath of the strikes on Al Udeid, President [Donald] Trump told the Emir of Qatar that Israel had signed off on an American ceasefire proposal,' the source added. 'The US president then asked Qatar to help Iran agree to a deal... Vice President JD Vance spoke to the Qatari prime minister... who persuaded Iran to agree to the proposal in a call with the Iranians.' Israel confirmed on Tuesday that it had accepted the truce, which Trump announced hours earlier. Iran's Supreme National Security Council, meanwhile, said Israel had been compelled to 'unilaterally' cease fire. Since then, both sides have accused each other of violating the agreement. 12:50 Iran's foreign ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said the strike 'had nothing to do' with Qatar and was an 'act of self-defence' against US and Israeli threats. 'Iran remains fully committed to its good-neighbourliness policy with respect to the State of Qatar and other neighbouring countries,' he posted on X. 'We resolve not to let US/Israeli criminal aggressions and malign policies against Iran create division between us and the brotherly countries of the region.' 12:30 Qatar has condemned Iran's missile strike on the US-run Al-Udeid air base, calling it a 'blatant aggression' and 'flagrant violation' of its sovereignty, the BBC reported. In a letter to the UN secretary general, Qatar's Ministry of Foreign Affairs described Monday's attack as an 'extremely dangerous escalation' that posed 'a direct threat to regional peace and security.' The letter accused Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps of endangering Qatar's territorial integrity and said Doha reserved the right to respond 'directly and proportionately' in line with international law. Qatar also said it had summoned the Iranian ambassador. 12:10 Abdolrahim Mousavi, chief of Iran's General Staff of the Armed Forces, said no missiles had been fired towards Israel in recent hours, according to Iranian state media. At 08:30 CLT, the Israeli military said it had identified missiles launched from Iran and intercepted them over northern Israel. Abdolrahim Mousavi, chief of Iran's General Staff of the Armed Forces. Iranian media Before the Trump-declared truce began, both sides exchanged heavy fire overnight. Iranian state media say waves of missiles from Israel have hit the capital and other cities - at least nine people have been killed, including a nuclear scientist. Some residents told BBC Persian they saw one of the "heaviest" barrages since the conflict began 12 days ago. 11:40 Iran's Supreme National Security Council has released a statement about "imposing the halt of the war" on Israel and its "terrorist supporters". The Council warned that "any further aggression will be met with a decisive, firm, and timely response by Iran." The Council praises the Iranian people for their "awareness, resilience, and unity." It added that the "enemy's defeat" is due to the Iranians' "firm resolve, strategic patience, and refusal to accept humiliation or one-sided compromise." The statement also commended Iran and its forces for delivering "decisive and calculated blows" in retaliation for attacks on Iran. Earlier, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran would halt attacks only if Israel ceased its own. 11:00 Israel has vowed a forceful response after claiming Iran fired two missiles shortly after a Trump-declared ceasefire between Tel-Aviv and Tehran came into effect, escalating tensions despite the truce. Defence Minister Israel Katz ordered the army to 'respond forcefully to Iran's violation of the ceasefire with intense strikes against regime targets in the heart of Tehran.' Army Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir promised: 'We will strike with force,' while far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich tweeted: 'Tehran will tremble.' Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said Tel Aviv would 'respond forcefully' to truce violations. 10:00 An Iranian ballistic missile struck a residential building in the southern Israeli city of Beersheba early Tuesday, killing at least five people and wounding 20 others — just hours before a Trump-declared ceasefire between Iran and Israel came into effect. Air raid sirens sounded across northern and southern Israel around 5:00am local time, shortly before the impacts. The Israeli army said Iran launched between 10 and 15 ballistic missiles in six salvos, according to statements carried by local media. The attack lasted more than an hour, Al Jazeera reported. Emergency services responded to multiple strike sites, including the heavily damaged apartment block in Beersheba in the Negev Desert. Firefighters and Home Front Command soldiers later recovered the body of a fifth victim from the rubble, according to the Fire and Rescue Service. Two of the wounded were reported in moderate condition. The strikes occurred four hours after US President Donald Trump said at 1:00am Cairo Local Time (CLT) that Iran and Israel had agreed to a truce. He declared the ceasefire officially in effect at 8:08am CLT. Israel confirmed its acceptance around 9:10am CLT. Iran, however, denied that any agreement had been reached. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran would halt its operations only if Israel ended its 'illegal aggression.' Emergency workers check the damage caused to a building from an Iranian missile strike in Beersheba in southern Israel on June 24, 2025. AFP 09:00 Israel has accepted a ceasefire proposal from US President Donald Trump, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement carried by Israeli media on Tuesday. Earlier, Trump announced that a truce was now in effect and urged both sides to avoid further escalation. Netanyahu's office said the prime minister met with senior officials, including the defence minister, military chief of staff, and the head of Mossad, to declare the success of 'Operation Rising Lion,' according to Israeli media. 'Israel has removed a dual immediate existential threat – both in the nuclear and ballistic missile fields,' the statement claimed. The Iranian flag flutters next to an image of Mohammad Bakeri, commander of the surface-to-surface missile array in the Revolutionary Guards Air Force, with the slogan 'Killed by Natanyahu' at a memorial for those killed by Israel, at Hafteh-tir Square, in Tehran on June 23, 2025. AFP 08:00 US President Donald Trump today announced a comprehensive ceasefire agreement between Israel and Iran, declaring an imminent end to what he termed "THE 12 DAY WAR." This dramatic development follows an overnight missile attack by Iran on the Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, which houses US troops. According to President Trump's post, the ceasefire agreement has been "fully agreed by and between Israel and Iran." The process is set to begin in approximately six hours from the time of the announcement, allowing both nations to conclude their current military operations. The overnight Iranian missile strike on Al Udeid Air Base was a direct retaliation for the recent US bombings of Iranian nuclear facilities. While explosions were heard over Qatar's capital, Doha, Qatari and US officials confirmed that the missiles were successfully intercepted, resulting in no casualties or significant damage. President Trump acknowledged the Iranian strike, calling it a "very weak response" and noting that the US was given advance warning, which helped prevent any loss of life. Iran, for its part, stated the strike was calibrated to mirror the number of bombs dropped by the US on its nuclear sites and was not intended to harm its "friendly and brotherly country, Qatar." The ceasefire agreement details a staggered de-escalation: Iran will initiate its ceasefire first, followed by Israel commencing its ceasefire upon the 12th hour. The conflict will then be officially declared "ENDED" at the 24th hour. During their respective ceasefire periods, both sides are expected to remain "PEACEFUL and RESPECTFUL." President Trump expressed strong optimism for the success of the agreement, stating, "On the assumption that everything works as it should, which it will, I would like to congratulate both Countries, Israel and Iran, on having the Stamina, Courage, and Intelligence to end, what should be called 'THE 12 DAY WAR.'" He emphasized the significance of this resolution, noting, "This is a War that could have gone on for years, and destroyed the entire Middle East, but it didn't, and never will!" The announcement concluded with a message of hope for the region: "God bless Israel, God bless Iran, God bless the Middle East God bless the United States." This development marks a dramatic and rapid shift in the escalating conflict, which had seen direct military strikes between Israel, Iran, and direct US involvement. The international community had been bracing for further escalation, with concerns over rising oil prices and disrupted shipping lanes following Iran's threat to close the Strait of Hormuz. If confirmed and adhered to, this ceasefire could avert a wider, more devastating conflict in the Middle East. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
Time of India
23-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
World War 3 begins? After Iran, Israel, US, Yemen, now Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Iraq get embroiled in conflict while Kuwait, Bahrain and the UAE close airspace. More nations may join either side soon. See what's happening now and who may be Iran's next target
The conflict between Iran, the United States, and Israel has widened. Countries in the Middle East are becoming involved. Missile attacks and military movements are taking place. Airspace closures and political responses are being reported from several Gulf states. US Jets Take Off from Saudi Arabia Israel's Channel 14 has reported that US fighter jets have departed from Saudi Arabia. This move is seen as part of the rising military activity in the region. The action suggests that the US is preparing for more operations. Also Read: What is Israel Doomsday Clock and is it still running or destroyed? Here's when Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei predicted Israel would no longer exist by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Dhoni's Exclusive Home Interior Choice? HomeLane Get Quote Undo Iran Targets US Base in Qatar Iran fired 10 ballistic missiles at the US Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar. Another missile was launched toward a US base in Iraq, Mehr News report said. The attack follows US airstrikes on Iran's nuclear facilities over the weekend. Iran called the operation 'Herald of Victory.' Explosions were heard in Doha. Iran's next target may be other US bases in the region. — IranMilitary_ir (@IranMilitary_ir) Live Events Qatar condemned the attack and said it had the right to respond under international law. Iran confirmed it launched the missiles in response to the US strikes. Reports say Iran informed Qatar in advance about the missile attack. This was done to avoid casualties. The US base was evacuated beforehand. Iran said the operation aimed to show retaliation without increasing the chances of war. This approach was similar to a 2020 missile attack following the death of General Qasem Soleimani. Qatar and US Respond to Attack Qatar's spokesperson said no one was hurt. The missiles were intercepted by air defense systems. The country released a statement quickly after the attack, indicating prior awareness. Qatar warned against further conflict and urged for diplomatic solutions. Iran's National Security Council said the operation was carried out away from residential areas. It added that the number of missiles used matched the number of bombs dropped by the US earlier. Also Read: Where is 400 kg enriched uranium? Iran claims to secretly move nuclear material to undisclosed location before US airstrikes hit nuclear sites. Here's how uranium may have been transported secretly Widening of Military Activity The US confirmed that no other bases besides Qatar were attacked. Air defense systems in Iraq were also activated as a precaution. President Donald Trump held a meeting in the Situation Room with military leaders, CNBC report said citing an official of Trump administration. The US is closely watching threats to its base in Qatar. There are no casualties so far. Regional Airspace Shut Down Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, and the UAE have closed their airspace. These closures followed Iran's attack on the US base in Qatar. Bahrain hosts the US Navy's Fifth Fleet. FlightRadar also showed airspace closures in the UAE. The Gulf region hosts several US military bases. Qatar stated that the airspace closure was for public safety due to the ongoing conflict and threats. FAQs Why did Iran attack the US base in Qatar? Iran launched the missiles in response to US strikes on its nuclear sites. The attack was symbolic and coordinated to avoid casualties. Which countries closed their airspace after the missile attacks? Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates closed their airspace due to regional military tensions and missile activity.
Shafaq News
22-06-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Pezeshkian blames US for escalation as Israel intensifies strikes on Iranian provinces
Shafaq News/ Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Sunday accused the United States of stepping in militarily after Israel failed to meet its objectives, as Israeli forces intensified their campaign against key sites across Iran. 'This assault confirms the US is the true power driving the Zionist regime's [Israel's] aggression,' Pezeshkian told Iran's IRNA news agency. 'Israel lacks the capability to act alone against Iran,' he added, asserting that Sunday 's Iranian strike on Israel was a direct response to Washington's hostile policies. His comments followed a fresh round of Israeli airstrikes targeting multiple provinces. State outlets reported blasts in Bushehr—site of Iran's only nuclear power plant—and strikes on military and energy sites in Yazd. A military waste depot was hit, and air defenses were activated near Damavand, east of Tehran. Israel's Channel 14 confirmed the air force had bombed 'critical command centers and missile launch platforms' in central Iran. The latest escalation comes in the wake of US strikes Sunday on three major nuclear facilities—Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan. Since June 13, Iran and Israel have exchanged near-daily waves of missiles and drones. Despite international appeals for restraint, both sides continue trading fire across multiple fronts.
