CNN Turk reporter 'attacked' during on-air broadcast in Beirut

CNN Turk correspondent Fulya Ozturk was attacked by an unidentified passerby on Sunday night in Beirut as she reported live from the Lebanese capital following the killing of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah.

A broadcast by Ozturk, 35, and camera operator Dogukan Yildirim was suddenly interrupted as an unknown assailant approached them in Beirut with shaky camera footage indicating a confrontation with the pair.

Beirut has seen an environment of extreme tension and paranoia with reports of other attacks on media workers following weeks of Israeli airstrikes that have killed leading Hezbollah officials and commanders.

There were fears for the safety of the pair, as there was no word of the journalists for a time but Turkish media later reported they were both unharmed.

Neither media worker has released a statement following the attack, and CNN Turk has not provided details on the incident. The New Arab has approached both for comment.

Some social media users commended Ozturk for her professionalism and shared concerns about her wellbeing. 

Yazan al-Saadi, The New Arab's international editor who is based in Beirut, said that the incident came amid widespread criticisms in Lebanon about international media coverage of Israeli assaults which have killed hundreds of people and displaced thousands more, particularly from the south of the people.

“It is because of the lack of help to the people, facilitation of Israel's actions and the discourses," al-Saadi said.

"And at the same, there is, in every incident and throughout the country, a growing attempt to put hard security on the ground.

"For example, when the bombings happened on Friday, Hezbollah and its security forces sealed off the area and pushed away the media because of the issue of security and fears of providing information."

Over 1,000 people have been killed and 6,000 wounded in the past two weeks, while around one million people - roughly a fifth of the population - have had to flee their homes.

Al-Saadi added that members of the media have unfortunately become a target of these frustrations, fears, and anger.