CPJ Committee to Protect Journalists

03/19/2026

Since the Iran war broke out on February 28, when the U.S and Israel launched strikes on Iran and Tehran retaliated with attacks across the region, CPJ has documented arrests of journalists, interference with reporting, airstrikes damaging media infrastructure, and sweeping restrictions on coverage both within the region and globally.

Below is a developing timeline of incidents affecting journalists and the media worldwide:

April 7, 2026, Day 39 — CPJ has yet to document any press freedom violations related to the war on this date.

April 6, 2026, Day 38 — Trump threatens to jail journalists for reporting; Israel journalist files Supreme Court petition over access

• U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to jail journalists, who reported that a second U.S. Air Force officer was missing after being shot down by Iran on Friday.
• Israeli photojournalist Shaul Greenfeld, who works for Haaretz and other international news agencies, filed an urgent petition to Israel’s Supreme court after being barred from covering soccer matches under emergency restrictions that prohibit journalists and photographers from entering stadiums amid the Iran war. Greenfeld told CPJ that at least four other journalists have been similarly affected.

April 5, 2026, Day 37 — Iran orders freezing of journalist assets; Lebanese journalist assaulted by police 

• Iran’s judiciary has ordered the identification, asset seizure, and bank account freezes of at least 100 individuals, including journalists and media workers affiliated with opposition outlets abroad, over their alleged “cooperation with hostile foreign entities.”  It includes 63 managers and staff of London-based Persian-language channel Iran International and 25 linked to London-based Persian-language broadcaster Manoto TV. Many of those affected are based abroad, including in the U.S, UK, and several European countries.
• Freelance journalist Alaa Sukkar was assaulted in Ain Saadeh, Mount Lebanon by a municipal police officer, while covering the aftermath of an Israeli strike. Sukakr told CPJ that after his wife, who was waiting in their parked car, called him to say she was being harassed, he returned to the vehicle and identified himself as a journalist. The police officer then insulted him and smashed the car windshield.

April 4, 2026, Day 36 — Turkish journalists obstructed in Israel

• In Israel, CNN Turk correspondent Serdar Er and cameraman Alper Ozturk were harassed while reporting live from the central Israeli city of Ramat Gan. A person can be seen  covering the camera and preventing filming, while also verbally harassing the crew. Er told CPJ that the individual appeared to notice the word “Turk” on the microphone, and that no other international media crews at the scene were subjected to similar interference.

April 3, 2026, Day 35 — TV crew obstructed in IsraelIn Israel, CNN Turk reporter Serdar Er’s live broadcast from the site of an Iranian ballistic missile impact was interrupted by a man the outlet identified as Rami Greenberg, the mayor of the central Israel city of Petah Tikva.  In the video, two men can be seen approaching the journalists, and one demands the reporter stop filming. It was reported that the journalists were asked to show their papers , told that Turkish press credentials were not recognized in the city, and threatened that  the police would be called to remove them.

April 2, 2026, Day 34 — Detention and obstruction of journalist in northern Israel

• Saeed Mahajneh, a correspondent for i24News, told CPJ that he was threatened and obstructed during a live broadcast  covering the military escalations in Shlomi, northern Israel, and detained for two hours by police, who accused him of filming “restricted military sites.” Mahajneh confirmed to CPJ that other Israeli media crews were present and filming in that same location and were not questioned. He was released and warned not to return to that location.

April 1, 2026, Day 33 — Syrian press members report Israeli forces targeted them

• Israeli forces targeted a media crew from the Syrian News Channel, also known as Al-Ikhbariya, and at least seven journalists in the countryside Quneitra in south-western Syria, according to news reports. An Al-Ikhbariya correspondent reported that Israeli forces directly targeted them while they were covering an Iranian drone shot down by Israeli air defenses. No injuries were reported. Syria TV correspondent Mohammad Fahed told CPJ that journalists were wearing clearly marked “Press” gear while reporting on the crash when Israeli forces targeted them.