Associated Press finally uses the word ‘invasion’ to describe Israel’s actual invasion

The Associated Press (AP) has finally used the word invasion to describe Israel’s illegal actions in Lebanon.

Of course, it could have used something far more accurate – like an “illegal invasion by a supremacist ethnostate” – but that’s probably pushing the boat out a bit too far.

Israel reported on with a crumb of accuracy

In true Western media fashion, it felt the need to publish a whole think piece on why it finally decided to tell the truth.

Such brave journalists, finally opening a dictionary.

Why are you so terrified of reporting basic facts?

— AIPAC Tracker (@TrackAIPAC) March 26, 2026

It only took two and a half years for the journalists at AP to actually do their jobs.

BREAKING: AP uses word to mean what word means https://t.co/d3rsQAS5pU

— Ali Abunimah (@AliAbunimah) March 27, 2026

And, the article should indeed have been just one sentence.

This article coulda been one sentence: “We are calling Israel’s invasion of Lebanon an invasion because that is what you call it when a country invades another country”. https://t.co/0eoZFNVNGp

— Colter Louwerse (@ColterL) March 27, 2026

But instead, AP decided to quote ‘Israeli officials’, i.e. terrorists, in detail.

AP also decided to state that:

Israel has invaded Lebanon four times in the past 50 years: 1978, 1982, 2006 and 2024.

It did this without offering any context or mentioning that all four invasions were very, very illegal.

There is literally no other circumstance where an international news outlet would feel the need to justify such a basic editorial decision. But because it’s Israel…

Imagine the kind of iron control over the media that requires a full published explanation when a word is used correctly against Israel https://t.co/kIlUzWrtIr

— Sarayu Pani (@sarayupani) March 27, 2026

Jokes aside, this is actually really telling. In no other circumstance would AP feel it has to explain/justify reporting news accurately. They only feel the need to do this because they are constantly being hounded by pro-Israel orgs like CAMERA that demand a pro-Israel bias. https://t.co/ASdwGTKf4U

— Tariq Kenney-Shawa (@tksshawa) March 27, 2026

Israel could tell the right-wing media the sky was green and they would probably publish it, because… ‘antisemitism’.

‘Israel says the sky is green. Others say it’s blue. Here’s why we’re now calling it blue.’ https://t.co/RE80ZqFQyu

— Davide Mastracci (@DavideMastracci) March 26, 2026

Still minimising the truth

Yes, a Western news outlet is finally admitting that it doesn’t usually tell the truth.

“We’ve decided to tell the truth. Here’s why we usually don’t.” https://t.co/v2YK1FuWeV

— Omar Sakr (@omarsakrpoet) March 27, 2026

However, notice how no media outlets describe Russia’s invasion as an invasion of ‘Eastern Ukraine’. It’s simply an invasion of Ukraine – a sovereign nation which has the right to self-defence under international law.

To make matters worse, it took AP only two days to correctly name Russia’s invasion.

It took @AP two days to call Russia’s invasion of Ukraine an invasion. I found the article.

It took four weeks of total destruction for them to call Israel’s actions in Lebanon an invasion, and they even felt the need to explain why.

That comparison is truly remarkable.…

— Abdullah Hassan (@8abdullahhassan) March 26, 2026

AP describing Israel’s actions as an ‘Invasion of Southern Lebanon’ is a precursor to one thing and one thing only. That is Israel annexing the south of Lebanon – and the media whitewashing it.

Only because it’s become untenable to deny manifest reality. Also though note how it’s still “southern” Lebanon and not just Lebanon. Whereas Russia of course is always referred to as invading Ukraine, not eastern Ukraine https://t.co/phkEZHTmcR

— Nate Bear (@NateB_Panic) March 27, 2026

Meanwhile, AP and the majority of other corporate media outlets still refuse to use the words genocide, ethnic cleansing, apartheid, and illegal occupation. I know that’s a lot of letters to get in the right order, but come on…

Ethnic cleansing too spicy? Land theft too onerous? Vandalism too old school? https://t.co/QAj1LFFK9v

— Robert Young Pelton (@RYP__) March 26, 2026

Allow me to congratulate myself for reluctantly telling the truth eventually.

We needed to wait until it was a full-blown ethnic cleansing and annexation to use “invasion,” which will now be used to minimize it. https://t.co/sLy9Ca5ee1

— Y Disassembler (@loomdoop) March 27, 2026

Next, they’ll tell us that naming an invasion an invasion requires a meeting at the Avengers compound with Tony Stark.

Since when does calling an invasion an invasion require analysis, deliberation, a newsroom vote, & an announcement?

— Hala Jaber (@HalaJaber) March 26, 2026

The essay is, no doubt, intended to preemptively address antisemitism claims. Because we all know that only Israel can be invaded by illegal terrorists.

The article is much like Israel’s ‘pre-emptive strikes’ – absolute bullshit.

The Associated Press has to write an essay pre-emptively defending themselves from “antisemitism!” shrieking after reaching the difficult decision to report accurately about even one thing israelis have done.

This agency controls almost half the news Western press contains! https://t.co/irGjKBPrTb

— Crixiv 2 🇵🇸 (@solzhenidiot) March 26, 2026

It’s a ten out of ten to the Associated Press for learning the correct definition of a word. Get them a Pulitzer Prize.

Maybe they’ll try genocide next? Or ethnic cleansing? We’ve linked the definitions, just in case you’re struggling, AP.

Of course, they won’t – because it’s only genocide or a war crime when it’s not Israel committing it.

This whole stunt by AP is nothing but a hilarious attempt to claw back any remaining credibility.

Featured image via Al Jazeera English/ YouTube