Lebanese Journalist Layal al‑Ekhtiar Arrested and Released Over Interview with Israeli Army Spokesman

Lebanese journalist Layal al‑Ekhtiar, an anchor for the Saudi-owned Al‑Arabiya network based in Dubai, was detained at Beirut’s airport on January 27, 2025, after landing from Dubai. Her detainment stems from an October 2023 interview with Col. Avichay Adraee, the Israeli Defense Forces spokesperson for Arabic media, conducted during the Gaza conflict. Lebanese authorities claim the interview violated Lebanon’s strict “anti-normalization” laws, which prohibit contact with Israeli officials, given that the countries are still technically at war.

Al‑Ekhtiar was brought before a military prosecutor, who had issued a warrant shortly after the broadcast based on accusations from a group of Lebanese journalists, reportedly Hezbollah-affiliated, alleging she had “communicated with enemy officials”. During questioning, she emphasized that the interview was assigned by her employer and conducted professionally, with no praise for the IDF but simply journalistic inquiry..

Critics—including al‑Ekhtiar herself—have condemned her treatment as “judicial repression” and “political persecution,” warning that such actions threaten journalistic freedom and suppress balanced reporting in Lebanon. She tweeted: “This step is blatant political persecution… They are inflicting moral, national, and human disgrace on themselves…”.

The military judge granted her release on bail, set at 50 million Lebanese pounds (approximately US$ 558), though she remains under legal investigation. The judge also reportedly authorized the seizure of her phone and its contents to identify possible contacts with Israeli entities.

Al‑Arabiya publicly defended al‑Ekhtiar, calling the warrant “an attack on journalism and its professional values,” and affirming its commitment to balanced reporting. Analysts warn that applying “anti-normalization” laws in response to standard journalistic work could stifle media freedom in Lebanon, especially amid heightened regional tensions.

Layal al‑Ekhtiar remains under investigation but is free on bail. Her case is being monitored by Lebanese press freedom advocates, who view it as a flashpoint in the ongoing struggle over media independence and the limits imposed by stringent anti-Israel statutes.