IDF Admits Fake Image of Lebanese Journalist Death

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) admitted to editing a photo of Al Manar journalist Ali Shoeib to depict him in a military uniform, after initial posts falsely presented him as a Hezbollah terrorist. The edited image was posted on the IDF’s official X account and has drawn condemnation from Hezbollah and the Lebanese President.

IDF Admits to Editing Image

The IDF’s initial post on X stated, “ELIMINATED,” and claimed Ali Hassan Shoeib had “operated as a Hezbollah Radwan Force terrorist under the guise of a journalist,” alleging the “press vest” was a cover for terror. The post was accompanied by the altered image.

Following questions from Fox News, the IDF acknowledged it had edited the photo to show Shoeib in a military uniform, effectively posting a fabricated image. Queensland University of Technology disinformation researcher Timothy Graham told ABC NEWS Verify that the admission being made to Fox News was significant, suggesting the IDF chose a media outlet unlikely to amplify the correction.

“It’s fabricated evidence of combatant status applied to a real person, published on an official military platform to justify a killing. It is rationalisation of violence through deception,” Associate Professor Graham said.

No Evidence Presented

Shoeib was one of three Lebanese journalists killed in a targeted Israeli strike in southern Lebanon on Saturday. He was a reporter for the Hezbollah-affiliated Al Manar TV. Also killed were reporter Fatima Ftouni and her brother, cameraman Mohamed Ftouni, both from Al Mayadeen.

The strike hit the journalists’ car just before noon local time. The IDF has not provided any evidence to support its claim that Shoeib had a military role with Hezbollah, nor has it commented on the deaths of Ftouni and her brother.

Graham stated that such social media posts represent a modern approach to military propaganda, prioritizing “first-impression dominance.” He suggested the correction, when it comes, often doesn’t matter as the initial false impression takes hold, characterizing this not as a communications failure but as a deliberate strategy.

Condemnation of the Attack

Hezbollah released a statement on Telegram decrying the IDF’s X statements as false, calling the targeting of journalists “a war crime against the free, honest and national media.”

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun also condemned the attack, stating it violated international law and humanitarian norms by targeting media correspondents. He described the attack as “a blatant crime that violates all norms and treaties under which journalists are granted international protection during armed conflicts.”

As of publication, the IDF’s post and edited photo remained on X without any community correction.