Journalists face growing restrictions and detentions covering Middle East conflict

Journalists covering the war in the Middle East are encountering increasing restrictions, censorship, and even detention, as governments and armed groups attempt to control information, a survey of AFP bureau chiefs revealed.

Some of the strictest measures are in Iran and Israel, though Gulf monarchies, recently targeted by unprecedented Iranian drone and missile strikes, have also tightened controls. Authorities are particularly wary of images showing missile strikes, air defence responses, or precise locations of attacks.

In Iran, independent reporting is especially difficult outside Tehran. AFP’s bureau has been unable to access the site of a recent school strike in Minab, where authorities reported over 150 casualties, including children. With internet services severely disrupted, journalists rely on interviews with refugees and members of the Iranian diaspora, while Tehran authorities tightly monitor any media activity. Journalists risk questioning or detention even when given limited access to civilian sites.

Israel has also increased military censorship, restricting coverage of air defence operations, missile interceptions, and military sites. Civilian damage can be reported, but precise locations must be withheld, with violators facing legal consequences.

Lebanon, under heavy Israeli bombardment, sees restrictions imposed by Hezbollah, while Gulf nations have arrested hundreds for sharing images or allegedly misleading information. In the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Bahrain, authorities have detained individuals for filming or circulating content that exposes damage or could incite panic.

Journalists in Jordan and Iraq face similar limits, barred from reporting on defence operations, border areas, or sensitive locations. The Kurdish region restricts live reporting on missile or rocket attacks.

Meanwhile, in the United States, the Pentagon has not invited international media on embeds, and outlets including AFP, AP, and the New York Times lost credentials after declining new media rules.

The AFP survey paints a stark picture: as the conflict intensifies, the space for independent journalism across the Middle East is shrinking, with reporters navigating both physical danger and legal risks to report the truth.