JournalismPakistan.com | Published July 31, 2017
Join our WhatsApp channel
BRUSSELS - A Russia Today (RT) correspondent was killed and a cameraman injured in a rocket attack by the Islamic State (IS) militants Sunday in Homs province, Syria.
The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and its Russian affiliate the Russian Union of Journalists have condemned the attack and call on journalists to take extreme caution when covering the conflict in Syria.
Khaled Alkhateb, 25 was traveling with Syrian government forces reporting on their offensive against the Islamic State near the town of Al-Sukhna when the group came under anti-tank rocket fire from IS fighters.
Alkhateb and an unidentified Syrian army official were killed and RT cameraman Muutaz Yaqoub sustained minor injuries and was admitted to a nearby hospital. RT Arabic broadcaster also reported that three other Syrian army soldiers were injured in the attack.
Alkhateb was born in Syria in 1992. According to his social media accounts, he became a stringer for RT Arabic on June 12, 2017. Alkhateb had been working for Sputnik International, Syrian state television and finally RT before his death and is the first RT journalist to be killed reporting for the network.
RUJ Executive Secretary Tim Shaffir said: “The death of our colleague Khaled Alkhateb in Syria is another tragic and sad occasion for all journalists, cameramen and media employees working in conflict zones. Once again we demand their safety and protection in a situation where they risk their lives daily. This is an occasion to once again pay tribute to their courage and professionalism. We mourn together with relatives and friends of our Syrian colleague and we express our condolences to his colleagues from the RT channel.”
Al-Sukhna, the last city in Homs province controlled by IS has been largely retaken by government forces as of yesterday. Syrian Army forces had begun to enter the town on Friday as IS fighters began retreating from the area. Al Sukhna is around 70km northeast of the town of Palmyra, the site of the ancient ruins under siege by IS since early 2015.
“We are appalled by yet another death of a journalist in Syria,” said IFJ president Philippe Leruth. “Our thoughts are with Khaled Alkhateb’s family, loved ones and colleagues. The IFJ demands that the armed groups in Syria fulfill their obligation under international law to protect journalists on the ground and allow them to report freely and safely.”
Khaled Alkhateb’s death marks the first journalist killed in Syria this year. Since the start of the Syrian Civil War in 2011, 74 journalists have died in targeted or crossfire killings. – IFJ media release/Image: Sputnik International
April 11, 2025: Sindhi journalist AD Shar was brutally murdered in Khairpur, Sindh. His body was found dumped on Handiyari Link Road. PFUJ has declared a three-day mourning period and demanded justice.
April 10, 2025: The Azad Jammu and Kashmir government has filed a case against The Daily Jammu & Kashmir and its staff for alleged fake news, drawing condemnation from PFUJ and IFJ, who demand immediate withdrawal of the FIR and an end to media repression in Pakistan.
April 08, 2025: Journalist Arzoo Kazmi alleges that Pakistan's state agencies, including the FIA, have blocked her CNIC, passport, and bank account while threatening her. She calls it a direct attack on journalism.
April 07, 2025: The Islamabad High Court has directed IG Islamabad to produce journalist Ahmad Noorani’s missing brothers, as the Ministry of Defence denies custody. SIM activity was traced in Bahawalpur, and investigations into their suspected abduction continue.
April 07, 2025: Journalist and Raftar founder Farhan Mallick has been granted bail by a Karachi court in a case concerning anti-state content aired on his YouTube channel. He still faces separate charges related to an alleged illegal call center and data theft.
April 03, 2025: Veteran journalist Ghulam Abbas Shah has joined Discover Pakistan Television as the Head of Programming. With 25 years of experience in leading news organizations, he looks forward to contributing to quality storytelling and content.
April 02, 2025: The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) has strongly condemned the visit of a group of Pakistani journalists to Israel, calling it a violation of journalistic ethics and a betrayal of press freedom and human rights. PFUJ demands a transparent investigation into the matter.
March 30, 2025: Dawn criticizes Pakistan’s plan to use TV dramas against extremism, highlighting financial and digital challenges. Can media alone solve deep-rooted issues?
April 03, 2025 The International Press Institute (IPI) and International Media Support (IMS) invite nominations for the 2025 World Press Freedom Hero and Free Media Pioneer Awards. Recognizing courageous journalists and innovative media, the awards will be presented at IPI’s 75th-anniversary World Congress in Vienna. Submit your nominations by April 30, 2025.
April 01, 2025 Photojournalist Suresh Rajak was burned alive while covering a violent protest in Kathmandu. The IFJ and its affiliates condemn the attack and call for an urgent investigation to hold the perpetrators accountable.
April 01, 2025 Assam Police arrested digital journalist Dilwar Hussain Mozumder for covering a protest against alleged corruption at Assam Co-Operative Bank. Media organizations have condemned the arrest, calling it an attack on press freedom.
March 29, 2025 A federal judge has blocked the Trump administration’s attempt to dismantle Voice of America (VOA), ruling that the move likely violated legal procedures. The decision protects over 1,200 journalists and media staff.
March 28, 2025 Turkey deports BBC journalist Mark Lowen over 'public order' threat and fines opposition TV channels covering Istanbul Mayor's arrest. Critics condemn crackdown on press freedom amid rising political tensions.