Jerusalem:

The Israeli army said on Friday that an attack that killed three journalists in southern Lebanon was “under review”, claiming it had targeted Hezbollah militants.

“Earlier today, following intelligence information, the IDF (army) struck a Hezbollah military structure in Hasbaya in southern Lebanon,” the military said in a statement to AFP.

“The attack was carried out while the terrorists were inside the structure,” it added.

“Several hours after the strike, reports came in that journalists had been hit during the strike. The incident is under investigation.”

Lebanese television channel Al Mayadeen said a cameraman and broadcast engineer were killed in the strike in Hasbaya, which the Pro-Iran Network said targeted a journalist’s residence.

Another TV channel, Al-Manar, which is run by Hezbollah, said one of its video journalists was also killed.

After the strike, a car with a “press” label was smashed under rubbish.

Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati accused Israel of deliberately targeting the journalists in what he called a “war crime” that “aims to terrorize the media to cover up crimes and destruction”.

Israel expanded its focus to Lebanon last month, after nearly a year of war in Gaza sparked by Hamas attacks, launching a massive bombing campaign targeting mainly Hezbollah strongholds across the country and sending in ground troops on September 30.

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