Two unidentified men riding a motorcycle threw a bomb at the headquarters of the "LBCI" satellite channel in Lebanon, in an attack linked by some Lebanese media to broadcasting content on this channel's screen under the title "Learning the Shiite language."

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Preliminary investigations conducted by members of the Army Intelligence, the Security Forces and the Information Division showed that the bomb exploded in one of the parking lots in front of the channel building, causing material damage.

After examining the surveillance cameras, it was found that the incident occurred at exactly 9:10 pm on Sunday, January 22.

The local newspaper, Al-Nahar, linked the attack to the content of the video broadcast recently by LBCI under the title "Learning the Shiite language" through the program "Ta'aqlo Bezaal" presented by Hamad Al-Dayikh and Hussein Kawouk (the two main actors), which sparked a state of anger among the Shiites. In Lebanon.

Lebanese Vines newspaper also linked the attack to the video, saying, "This attack came because of a dramatic clip that was shown on LBC and was considered a mockery of the Shiite dialect" in Lebanon.

After the broadcast of the episode, the program team received phone threats and on communication sites of harm and killing, according to what Dayikh and Kawouk reported in an explanatory video recorded after the episode, which caused confusion in the Lebanese street.

The Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation (LBCI) issued a statement confirming that it will be "a platform for freedom and defense of Lebanon," indicating its confidence in the security services, "which immediately launched investigations."

For his part, Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati confirmed that "security investigations will intensify to find out the circumstances of the incident." Information Minister Ziyad al-Makari also denounced the incident, stressing that "media freedom will remain safeguarded."

What happened is suspicious, rejected, condemned, and reprehensible, and freedom of the media will remain preserved, and I will follow up on the matter with the security services that have launched the necessary investigations, so that the perpetrator is prosecuted as quickly as possible.

- Ziad T. Makary (@ZiadMakary) January 22, 2023

For its part, the Lebanese Press Club, the Editors' Syndicate, and "Media Journalists for Freedom" condemned the throwing of the bomb in front of the media institution.

Previous assault incidents

On December 30, 2022, unknown persons opened fire on the "Al-Jadeed" TV building, and 14 bullets penetrated the fourth and fifth floors of the channel's building. A day before, the building was hit by a "Molotov cocktail", which caused no damage.

#Urgent video - bullets hit the Al-Jadeed TV channel building, and the security forces are examining the place.

Details on the following link: https://t.co/e9428k9zW8 pic.twitter.com/xcSeofyCEV

- Al Jadeed News (@ALJADEEDNEWS) December 30, 2022

The attacks came against the backdrop of a satirical "sketch" on the "Fasha Khalk" program, during which actress Joanna Karaki spoke about the Shiites in the south, and the channel was subjected to a campaign against her on the background of the program.

On September 14, 2022, the management of Al-Binaa newspaper announced that an armed gang had attacked the newspaper's headquarters on the eighth floor of the Astral Building on Al-Hamra Street in Beirut, stormed it, and wreaked havoc and theft.

The management of the Al-Binaa newspaper announced that, at approximately two o'clock in the morning today, an armed gang attacked the newspaper's offices located on Al-Hamra Street in Beirut, and stormed them by breaking and dislocating them. These elements stole files, books, computers, and safes containing documents and money. #Al-Mayadeen_Lebanon pic.twitter.com/DnVXdqVkJ4

- Al-Mayadeen Lebanon (@mayadeenlebanon) September 14, 2022