On December 12, 2025, the ongoing conflict along the Israel-Lebanon border reached a new flashpoint, with Israeli warplanes striking multiple locations in South Lebanon, according to LBCI. The airstrikes, which follow a year marked by heightened violence and tragic losses among journalists covering the region, have intensified calls for accountability and transparency regarding previous attacks on members of the press.
Just over a year ago, on October 13, 2023, an Israeli tank fired two shells in quick succession from Israeli territory as journalists documented cross-border shelling in Lebanon. The strike killed Reuters visual journalist Issam Abdallah and severely wounded Agence France-Presse (AFP) photographer Christina Assi. Dylan Collins, an AFP journalist and American citizen, was also wounded in the attack. The incident sent shockwaves through the international journalism community and prompted immediate demands for a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the attack.
Despite public pledges from the Israeli military (IDF) to review the incident, U.S. lawmakers and press freedom advocates say there has been little in the way of meaningful accountability. At a news conference organized by two advocacy groups on December 12, 2025, U.S. Senator Peter Welch of Vermont—home state to one of the wounded journalists—voiced his frustration with what he described as Israel’s lack of a serious investigation. "The IDF has made no effort, none, to seriously investigate this incident," Welch said, standing next to Dylan Collins. He added, "The IDF claimed they conducted an investigation but there's absolutely no evidence that there was any investigation."
Welch’s remarks underscored a growing sense of exasperation among those seeking answers. He explained that, as recently as June 2025, his office was informed by the Israeli Embassy that the IDF had conducted an investigation and concluded that none of the soldiers involved had acted outside the military’s rules of engagement. Yet, when pressed for details, Welch said Israeli authorities have "stonewalled" his requests, providing conflicting answers about the status of the investigation. According to Welch, the Israeli government told his office the investigation was closed, while separately telling AFP that the investigation was still active and findings were pending. "So which is it? Both can't be true," he remarked, highlighting the confusion and lack of transparency.
When Reuters contacted the IDF regarding Welch’s comments and the status of the investigation, a spokesperson responded, "The event is still being examined," but declined to provide further information. The lack of clarity has frustrated not only the families of the victims and their colleagues but also international observers and advocates for press freedom.
Marc Lavine, AFP’s Regional Director for North America, echoed these concerns at the same news conference. "AFP calls on the Israeli authorities to reveal the results of any investigation and to hold those responsible to account," Lavine said. For more than two years, AFP and other media organizations have been seeking full accountability for the attack, but, as of December 2025, no explanation has been provided by the IDF for why the tank unit fired at the group of journalists, according to Reuters.
Other U.S. lawmakers have joined Welch in demanding justice. Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen noted, "We have not seen accountability or justice in this case. It is part of a broader pattern of impunity, of attacks on Americans and on journalists by the government of Israel." Representative Becca Balint and independent Senator Bernie Sanders, both from Vermont, have also pledged to continue their efforts to seek justice for the journalists affected by the attack.
The October 2023 incident was not an isolated event. In August 2025, Israeli forces struck Nasser hospital in the south of the Gaza Strip, resulting in the deaths of at least 20 people, including journalists working for Reuters, the Associated Press, Al Jazeera, and other outlets. An Israeli military official told Reuters at the time that the two journalists killed in the hospital strike—one from Reuters and one from the Associated Press—were not "a target of the strike." Nevertheless, the deaths have contributed to growing concerns about the safety of journalists covering conflict zones and the adequacy of investigations into such incidents.
Since the 2023 attack, Reuters has repeatedly called on the Israeli military to conduct a swift, thorough, and transparent investigation into the strike that killed Abdallah. Yet, as of December 2025, the agency has received no explanation from the IDF regarding the reasons behind the tank’s actions. The continued absence of answers has left many in the journalism community feeling vulnerable and unsupported in their pursuit of truth on the front lines.
The December 12, 2025, airstrikes in South Lebanon come amid this backdrop of unresolved questions and unaddressed grievances. The strikes have reignited fears about the safety of civilians and journalists operating in the region, where the risks of reporting have always been high but have grown more acute in recent years. As the Israeli military maintains that it does not target journalists, the lack of transparent investigations and clear communication has only deepened skepticism and mistrust.
For many observers, the ongoing violence and the absence of accountability raise pressing questions about the protection of journalists and the role of governments in ensuring justice when members of the press are harmed or killed. The situation has also prompted broader debates about the responsibilities of military forces operating in conflict zones, the standards of international law, and the mechanisms available for independent oversight and investigation.
As the conflict continues and the calls for answers grow louder, the families of those killed and wounded, their colleagues, and advocates around the world remain steadfast in their demands for justice. The pursuit of accountability, they argue, is not only about honoring the memory of fallen journalists but also about safeguarding the essential work of a free and independent press in times of war.
With tensions still running high and the facts of past attacks unresolved, the region faces a difficult road ahead—one where transparency, accountability, and the protection of journalists remain urgent and deeply contested issues.
