Gunfire hits al-Jadeed building in 3rd attack in 4 days

Gunshots hit al-Jadeed TV’s building overnight in Beirut’s Cola area, in the third attack against the TV network in four days.

“Heavy gunfire was heard in the channel’s vicinity and security forces guarding the building since several days said it was hit by several gunshots,” al-Jadeed said.

“The perpetrator fired directly at the building, causing material damage,” the TV network added.

Al-Jadeed Public Relations Director Ibrahim al-Halabi meanwhile said that security forces are working on identifying the culprits and that the network “will respond through the journalistic and judicial tracks.”

“The attackers are sending a message in various directions despite the presence of security forces,” Halabi said.

“What’s happening will increase tensions but it will not lead to any result,” Halabi added, noting that “what’s happening is not a reaction” against a recent comedy sketch aired on al-Jadeed.

Some viewers deemed the aforementioned sketch to be insulting to “southern women,” as the sketch’s actress, Joanna Karaki, argued that a curtailed version of the sketch was distributed on social media for malicious purposes.