On Tuesday, a crew from Tg3 documenting the ongoing war in Lebanon was attacked near Sidon, a city located roughly halfway between Beirut and the Israeli border. The incident, which is still shrouded in mystery, was recounted by journalist Lucia Goracci, a member of the assaulted team. Tragically, the crew’s driver, a local collaborator with the news outlet, reportedly died of a heart attack during the assault.
Goracci detailed that she and her colleagues were filming in northern Sidon when a man approached and attempted to grab the camera from one of the journalists. Following this initial confrontation, the crew tried to escape by getting into a car, which was then aggressively pushed by a group of individuals.
While fleeing, the crew’s vehicle was attacked again after stopping to refuel just outside the city. During this second assault, Ahmad, the driver who had been working with Rai for many years, suffered a heart attack and was later pronounced dead in the hospital despite repeated resuscitation attempts.
This violent episode underscores the dangers faced by journalists covering conflicts in volatile regions, highlighting the risks they encounter while striving to report on the unfolding events.