Trey Yingst: Navigating the Truth in the Heart of Conflict

FOX News’ Chief Foreign Correspondent, Trey Yingst, shares his experiences reporting from war zones and the personal toll of covering the world's most dangerous conflicts, including his insights from his new book, Black Saturday, on the Israel-Hamas war.

Reporting Under Fire: Trey Yingst on Reporting the Israel-Hamas Conflict / The Everyday Warrior Nation

In a world saturated by polarized media, Trey Yingst stands out for his commitment to impartiality. As FOX News' Chief Foreign Correspondent, Yingst has covered some of the most volatile war zones in recent history—Afghanistan, Ukraine, and most recently, the Israel-Hamas conflict. In his latest appearance on The Everyday Warrior podcast, Yingst opens up about the emotional rollercoaster of reporting from war zones, the personal toll it takes, and the motivation behind his new book, Black Saturday: An Unfiltered Account of the October 7th Attack on Israel and the War in Gaza.

Reporting from Tel Aviv, where he’s been stationed throughout the Israel-Hamas war, Yingst describes the near-constant pressure of working amid conflict. "Being on the ground on October 7, seeing the massacre unfold in real-time, was one of the darkest days of my life," he recounts. It’s this firsthand experience that led him to write Black Saturday. This book seeks to tell the unfiltered truth about what happened during the Hamas attacks and the ensuing war.

The Burden of Truth in Conflict Reporting

Yingst is not just another journalist on the frontlines—his mission is to offer an unbiased, humanized look at both sides of the conflict. "People are quick to take sides," he notes, "but war is complex. It's important to understand the motivations on both sides, even if we disagree with them."

This dedication to capturing the truth, no matter how uncomfortable, drives Black Saturday. Yingst dives deep into the experiences of not only Israeli soldiers and civilians but also Palestinians caught in the crossfire. He recounts interviews with Hamas officials, Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers, Palestinian civilians, and doctors—all while staying true to his commitment to objectivity.

"I hope that readers of Black Saturday will come away with a better understanding of both sides," he says. "You may not like that I spoke with Hamas leaders or that I spoke with Israeli officials, but my goal is to present the facts as they are. I want people to learn something and have a more nuanced view of the conflict."

The Emotional Toll of War

Yingst’s dedication comes at a personal cost. He candidly discusses the emotional toll of witnessing the horrors of war. "At the moment, you don't process it," he admits. "You're running on adrenaline, trying to get the story. But when things slow down, it hits you—what you saw, how close you were to danger."

For Yingst, compartmentalizing is crucial to surviving in this line of work. "You have to keep moving. When you stop, that's when it becomes overwhelming. I've had to learn to compartmentalize what I see, or it would drive me crazy."

Yet, despite the emotional strain, Yingst remains committed to delivering the truth. "It's tough, but it's my passion. It's why I do what I do."

Empathy in the Midst of War

Perhaps the most potent lesson Yingst shares from his experiences is the importance of empathy—especially in a conflict where emotions run high and opinions are deeply divided. "It's possible to have empathy for the Palestinian civilians suffering in Gaza and empathy for the Israelis who were massacred on October 7," he explains. "War is horrible on both sides, and we must acknowledge that."

As Black Saturday hits shelves, Yingst hopes it will serve as a reminder that in the chaos of war, human stories matter most. "At the end of the day, it's not about taking sides—it's about understanding the human cost of conflict."