US lawmakers say Israel hasn’t held to account those involved in 2023 strike that killed journalist in Lebanon

Four US lawmakers say there has been no accountability for an October 2023 attack by the Israeli military that struck a group of journalists in Lebanon, killing a Reuters visuals journalist and wounding others.

US Senator Peter Welch from Vermont, the home state of one of the journalists wounded in the attack, accused Israel of not conducting a serious investigation into the incident, saying he had seen no proof of that.

He does not specify what details he had requested from the Israeli government, or what, if anything, he had been given.

On October 13, 2023, an Israeli tank fired two shells in quick succession from Israel as journalists were filming cross-border shelling. The attack killed Reuters visuals journalist Issam Abdallah and severely wounded Agence France-Presse (AFP) photographer Christina Assi.

The Israeli military has said it does not target journalists but has not offered an explanation for why that Israeli tank unit fired at the group of journalists.

In a news conference organized by two advocacy groups, Welch, a Democrat, says he had been given no written proof of an Israeli investigation into the attack, nor any evidence that Israeli officials have spoken with victims, witnesses, shooters or any of the independent investigators.

In June 2025, Senator Welch’s office was told by the Embassy that the IDF had conducted an investigation into the incident and the conclusion was that none of the soldiers acted outside of the IDF’s rules of engagement.

Standing next to AFP journalist Dylan Collins, an American citizen who was also wounded in the attack, Welch said the Israeli authorities have “stonewalled” him on his pleas for an investigation and gave him conflicting answers. Welch did not give further details about the interactions.

“The IDF has made no effort, none, to seriously investigate this incident,” Welch said. “The IDF claimed they conducted an investigation but there’s absolutely no evidence that there was any investigation,” he adds.

Welch says the Israeli government told his office the investigation was closed but separately told the AFP that the investigation was active and the findings have not been concluded. “So which is it? Both can’t be true.”

Asked by Reuters about Welch’s comments and whether its investigation is concluded, an IDF spokesperson says: “The event is still being examined.” The spokesperson does not provide further details.