Yves Debay

Yves Debay (24 December 1954 – 17 January 2013), was a veteran French-Belgian war correspondent, who founded and reported for the French-language magazines Raids and later Assaut ("Assault"), which is published out of Boulogne-Billancourt, Paris, France. He was the first Belgian journalist to be killed in Syria.

Personal Yves Debay was born in Élisabethville, Belgian Congo (later Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of the Congo). He first enlisted in the Belgian army in 1975 and later was a tank commander before turning to mercenary activities. In 1987, he became a French citizen. Debay was one of the founders of Raids in 1986 and worked for the French-language magazine for over 20 years covering military and war issues.

Impact Yves Debay and Marie Colvin were among the most experienced war correspondents who were killed while covering the Syrian civil war.

Reactions While a hostage situation was ongoing in Algiers after France's intervention in Mali, French President François Hollande issued an official statement condemning Debay's killing.

Writings Wildcat, Carnets de guerre d'un journaliste rebelle (2004).