Al-Manar is owned by Hezbollah, but it is a civilian organization protected by international law. Hezbollah is a militant group, but also a political party with elected representatives in Lebanon’s parliament.

The strikes drew condemnation from press rights groups and leaders across Lebanon’s deeply divided political spectrum.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun called it “a blatant crime that violates all norms and treaties under which journalists are granted international protection during armed conflicts”.