26 Feb 2026 - 08:26
The Kabul Tribune (KT) - A record 129 journalists and media workers were killed worldwide in 2025, marking the deadliest year for the press since records began more than three decades ago, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) said in a new special report.
According to CPJ, nearly two-thirds of the deaths were attributed to Israeli forces, with the majority of those killed being Palestinian journalists covering the war in Gaza. The organization said this represents the highest number of journalists killed by a single country’s military in one year since it began tracking such data in 1992.
The report noted that more than 75 percent of the killings occurred in conflict zones, underscoring the growing dangers faced by reporters working in war-torn regions. CPJ also highlighted the increasing use of drone strikes in areas where journalists were killed.
Beyond Gaza, journalists were also killed in countries including Sudan, Mexico, Ukraine, and the Philippines, though in significantly lower numbers.
CPJ called for greater accountability and independent investigations into the killings, warning that persistent impunity in attacks against journalists threatens press freedom and the public’s right to information worldwide.
