Issam Abdallah
He was Killed in an Israeli strike while reporting in southern Lebanon.
According to investigations by Reporters Without Borders (RSF) and Reuters, the group of journalists — all wearing visible “press” markings — were hit by two successive strikes fired from the direction of the Israeli border. The first explosion hit a wall behind them, and the second directly struck the journalists’ vehicle and surrounding area. Issam Abdallah sustained fatal injuries from the blast and died at the scene. The attack raised international concern about the targeting of journalists in conflict zones and prompted calls for accountability.
Biography
Issam Abdallah, aged 37, was an experienced Lebanese photojournalist working for Reuters. Known for his courage, professionalism, and humanity, he spent years documenting wars and crises across the Middle East. On 13 October 2023, while covering cross-border tensions between Israel and Hezbollah in southern Lebanon, he was killed in an Israeli strike that also injured several fellow journalists. Abdallah’s death marked the first killing of a journalist outside Israel and Palestine during the 2023 Gaza war.
Born in Lebanon in 1986, Issam Abdallah built a distinguished career as a photojournalist, dedicating much of his life to covering conflict zones and humanitarian crises in the Middle East. Working for Reuters, he became known for his striking photography and calm presence in dangerous environments. His images often captured both the brutality of war and the resilience of those affected by it. Colleagues remembered him as a generous and fearless professional, committed to documenting the truth with integrity and empathy. On 13 October 2023, Abdallah was part of a team of journalists from Reuters, Agence France-Presse (AFP), and Al Jazeera reporting from Aalma al-Chaab, a village in southern Lebanon near the Israeli border. While standing in an open area clearly marked as “press,” their group was struck by two consecutive explosions believed to have been fired from the direction of Israel. Abdallah was killed instantly, while six others were injured. His final moments reflected his lifelong dedication to journ
Sources & References
He was the first journalist to be killed outside of Israel and Palestine. According to an investigation by RSF, the spot in southern Lebanon where Issam Abdallah, a photographer with the Reuters news agency, and six other journalists (with Reuters, Agence France-Presse and Al Jazeera) had gathered was targeted by two consecutive strikes coming from the east, from the direction of the Israeli border. The journalists had been out in the open for more than an hour and were all wearing helmets and vests marked "press."1 rsf.org Open source