Syria: Israeli airstrike kills state TV anchor in Damascus

Woman journalist Safaa Ahmad, who worked as an anchor for Syrian state television, lost her life on 1 October in an Israeli airstrike on the capital Damascus. Ahmad is the first journalist killed in the country in 2024. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) joins its affiliate, the Syrian Journalists' Union (SJU) in condemning the heinous killing, and reiterates that the perpetrators of the deadliest conflict for journalists must be tried before the International Criminal Court, as international law requires that journalists are considered civilians and combatants are obliged to ensure their safety.

Syrian security forces remove a damaged vehicle with a crane in the eastern Damascus neighbourhood of Mazzeh following Israeli airstrikes targeting the Syrian capital early on 1 October 1. Credit: AFP

Syrian state media reportedthree rounds of airstrikes on Damascus and the capital's surroundings during the night of 1 October. The killing of journalist and anchor Safaa Ahmad was reported by her employer, the Syrian state television, due to Israeli airstrikes.

Ahmad's death in Syria follows the killing of two journalists in southern Lebanon, Hadi Al-Sayed and Kamel Karaki on 24 September, and the killing of Palestinian journalist Wafaa Aludainiin Gaza on 30 September by Israeli bombing in just one week.

Nearly a year after the horrific attack of Hamas, on 7 October 2023, and the start of the deadly war in Gaza, Israel has devastated every aspect of life in Gaza and is spreading horror to its neighbours in the region, Lebanon and Syria.

The SJU mourned the killing of Ahmad. "The Syrian media family has lost the broadcaster Safaa Ahmed as a result of an Israeli attack in the neighbourhood where she lived. We condemn this crime in the strongest terms and call on unions and organisations across the world to denounce the aggression and to ensure that the perpetrators do not escape justice."

IFJ General Secretary Anthony Bellanger said: "Israel's shocking disregard for human life, and the journalistic community in particular, has no limits. We condemn the killing of journalist Safaa Ahmad and send our deepest condolences to her beloved ones. This terrible killing adds Syria to the list of countries, together with Palestine and Lebanon, in which Israel has slaughtered journalists since 7 October 2023. International law requires that journalists are considered civilians and combatants are obliged to ensure their safety. The IFJ reiterates that the perpetrators of massacres against journalists must be tried before international criminal courts."