US senators call on Biden administration to investigate Israeli strike on US journalist

Independent US Senator Bernie Sanders and Democrat Peter Welch have spearheaded a letter calling on the Biden administration to investigate an October 2023 Israeli attack on a group of journalists, including American journalist Dylan Collins, in southern Lebanon. 

The letter, signed by 10 other members of Congress, said Israel had failed to provide any explanation for the attack which killed Reuters journalist Issam Abdallah and injured six reporters. 

"The evidence clearly indicates that this was an unlawful direct attack on civilians in which a US citizen was injured and was lucky to survive," the letter said. 

Collins, a resident of Vermont, was working for the AFP at the time and suffered serious shrapnel wounds from Israeli tank fire. 

“To date, Mr Collins has received no explanation for the attack, and there have been no steps toward accountability. Given the inaction of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government, the United States must open an independent investigation into this incident," the letter said.