The Media Accountability Project  

On March 4, 2026, CJPME Media Analyst Anthony Issa sent a letter of concern to the editorial teams at the Toronto Star and the Associated Press regarding their article titled “Israeli military orders immediate evacuations in southern Lebanon as strikes on Beirut intensify.” 

The original article framed Israel’s military actions primarily through evacuation orders and retaliatory strikes, while failing to properly contextualize Israel’s prior invasion of Lebanon, its continued occupation of Lebanese territory, and its almost daily violations of the ceasefire between the two countries that has been in effect since 2024.

Following CJPME’s pressure, the article was revised with a new headline, “Israel warns residents in dozens of Lebanese border villages to evacuate as strikes intensify,” and expanded background on the conflict. 

The updated version now acknowledges that Israel launched a ground invasion of Lebanon during the 2024 war and continues to occupy five positions on Lebanese territory despite the U.S.-brokered ceasefire. The revised reporting also notes that Israel carried out near-daily strikes in southern Lebanon during the ceasefire period, which killed nearly 400 people.

Importantly, the revised article also incorporated Hezbollah’s stated rationale for its strikes on Monday March 2nd. 

The piece now quotes Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Kassem explaining that the group launched rockets in response to Israel’s continued occupation and military attacks, stating: “As long as the occupation is present, then the resistance and its weapons are a legitimate right.”

CJPME thanks the Toronto Star and the Associated Press for improving the context and balance of their reporting. These revisions provide readers with a clearer understanding of the escalation in Lebanon and represent a meaningful step toward more accurate coverage of the region.