A JOURNALIST has been hospitalised after an Israeli drone “deliberately” targeted him while he was reporting on the recent destruction in southern Lebanon.
Hadi Hoteit, a correspondent for the Iranian broadcaster Press TV, has reportedly suffered around five to six shrapnel wounds to both legs and his chest after shrapnel from the attack struck him.
The reporter shared an update on his injuries on social media, where he said the blast left him with multiple leg wounds requiring stitches and that doctors are assessing if he will need surgery to remove the remaining pieces of shrapnel.
Hoteit said that doctors are monitoring him for possible nerve damage, but is hopeful he will be able to walk again soon.
Video shared by Hoteit online has been widely spread as it showed the moment that he and his cameraman were hit by shrapnel from an explosion in the Arnoun area of southern Lebanon.
In the video, Hoteit can clearly be seen wearing a marked press vest and helmet as well as carrying a Press TV microphone while he was reporting on the destruction in the area.
According to Hotei, the drone struck the position where he was reporting from and he lay wounded for around 15 to 20 minutes before two local men were able to carry him to safety.
“Israeli drones targeted me while I was clearly filming a report in an open space with all requirements (press signs on the car, vest and helmet with press signs, cellphones open and not doing anything else,” Hoteit said in a post on Twitter/X.
Israeli drones targeted me while I was clearly filming a report in an open space with all requirements (press signs on the car, vest and helmet with press signs, cellphones open and not doing anything else. I was told that Lebanese army was blocking the road somewhere, so i went… pic.twitter.com/GFbZN8jrbA
— Hadi Hoteit | هادي حطيط (@HadiHtt) June 15, 2026
“I was told that Lebanese army was blocking the road somewhere, so I went there searching for where the Lebanese army is.
“I stopped at Arnoun-Yohmor-Kfartebnit roundabout because i didn't want to go further.
"I got outside my car, with my cameras in the cage and my microphone with PressTV logo.
“I was filming when the Israeli drones deliberately attacked where I was standing, and not my car.”
Hoteit went on to explain that he attempted to “get away” from his car as he was expecting the Israeli forces might retarget it.
He added: “Targeting journalists is a war crime.”
Posting an update of his injuries on Twitter/X, Hoteit thanked staff at Najdeh Hospital for treating him while under sustained attack from the Israeli forces.
Najdeh Hospital is a crucial medical facility operating under extreme duress in southern Lebanon, with staff and medics reportedly refusing to abandon the facility and continue to treat severe war casualties and displaced civilians through intense Israeli strikes.
Hoteit said: “Big thanks to the heroes who insisted on not abandoning their duties towards patients and wounded people during Wartime, despite the enormous risks, especially in Nabatieh, Tyre and Bint Jbeil areas.
“Their presence here nearby the frontline saves lives and minimizes pain, where everyday can carry a life threatening situations.
“More than 150 paramedics were murdered by Israeli terrorists since March 2 only, and about 300 injured.”
In March, a British war correspondent and his cameraman were also hospitalised after narrowly avoiding an Israeli strike in Lebanon.
Russia Today reporter Steve Sweeney and his cameraman, Ali Rida, were injured by shrapnel after an "an IDF plane fired upon the car" the pair were using.
Footage shows Sweeney filming a report before spotting a strike headed towards the two. He then ducks and an explosion is seen behind him.
According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, Israel has killed more than 260 journalists in Gaza, Yemen, Lebanon, Iran, and Israel.
“Israel is engaging in the deadliest and most deliberate effort to kill and silence journalists that CPJ has ever documented,” the organisation said.
