Ahmed al-Khatib, a reporter for the pro-opposition Edlib Media Center, was injured by shrapnel in Idlib province while covering a town’s shelling by the Syrian army on February 9, 2019, according to his employer, news reports, the local press freedom group Syrian Journalists’ Association, and the journalist, who spoke to CPJ.
Al-Khatib, who is also known as Khatib al-Idlibi, told CPJ that he was covering the army’s shelling of his hometown, Talmans, when he was hit by shrapnel from a rocket.
“The shrapnel from a cluster rocket hit my hands, injuring them, and breaking my camera” he said.
Al-Khatib was quoted by the Syrian Journalists’ Association as saying that he was immediately taken to a hospital for treatment and is now stable. According to his employer, four other civilians were injured during the shelling of Talmans on February 9.
Al-Khatib told CPJ that he has been covering the bombings by government-aligned forces in Idlib, as well as humanitarian issues, for the Edlib Media Center since 2014.