CNN reporter Emrah Çakmak and his cameraman Halil Kahraman were taken into custody by Israeli security forces while reporting outside Israel’s Ministry of Defense. The CNN Turk reporting team were broadcasting live from Tel Aviv, covering the tensions following an Iranian missile strike on the city. In footage from the broadcast widely shared online, Çakmak describes the immediate aftermath of the strike, showing an image on his phone of civilians moving toward shelters and later emerging from them once the danger has passed.

He is dressed in a CNN vest and holding a branded microphone, clearly advertising that he works for the global news channel. However, they were interrupted by two men in military uniforms. While their faces can’t be seen in the feed, they put their hand over the camera, and the scene suddenly went dead. It was later reported that the pair of journalists were taken in for questioning and their equipment had been confiscated.

The incident took place shortly after Iran launched a missile attack targeting Tel Aviv, escalating regional tensions.

As the situation unfolded, the CNN TURK team went live from the area near the Defence Ministry to report on developments on the ground, Turkiye Today reported.

Following their arrest, AK Party Deputy Chairman and Party Spokesperson Ömer Çelik issued a statement on social media.

“The detention of CNN Türk reporter Emrah Çakmak and cameraman Halil Kahraman by Israeli forces is an attack on press freedom. “This detention decision is unacceptable. The journalists must be released immediately. We are closely following the matter.”

Split image of CNN reporter showing a broadcast on his phone and a hand being put in front of the camera

A CNN reporter found themselves in trouble with the law during a live braodcast (Image: CNN)

Burhanettin Duran, the Head of Türkiye’s Directorate of Communications, also released a statement saying: “We are once again faced with one of Israel’s attacks on the press aimed at concealing the truth.

“I have learned that CNN Türk reporter Emrah Çakmak and cameraman Halil Kahraman have been detained in Israel. We are taking the necessary steps to ensure that our journalist colleagues are released as soon as possible and are closely monitoring the situation.”

Both men were later freed, and Çakmak revealed his iPhone had been unlocked despite his refusal to share the password.

“When I tried to give it to him, the name appeared on the phone screen before I even typed it into the search bar,” he told Fulya Kalfa in the studio.