Lebanon accuses Israel of targeting journalist killed in airstrike

Following an Israeli airstrike in southern Lebanon that claimed the life of a journalist and injured another, the country’s prime minister has leveled accusations of war crimes against Israel. Officials stated that Amal Khalil and Zeinab Faraj were intentionally targeted as they sought refuge in a home after an initial strike damaged the vehicle they were in, killing two men. The incident took place on Wednesday, according to reports.

Lebanese authorities claimed that Israeli forces also deliberately aimed at an ambulance marked with the Red Cross emblem as it attempted to reach the journalists in the village of Tayri. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) disputed this, asserting that they did not target journalists and acted to minimize harm while ensuring the safety of their troops.

Lebanon’s Response

Prime Minister Nawaf Salam condemned the attacks, stating that “targeting journalists, blocking access for relief teams, and striking their sheltered locations again after rescue efforts arrive” qualifies as war crimes. He emphasized that Israel’s actions reflect a “systematic strategy” in targeting media workers in the region.

“Targeting journalists, obstructing access to them by relief teams, and even targeting their locations again after these teams arrive constitutes described war crimes,” said Salam.

The health ministry noted that Israeli forces pursued Khalil and Faraj, who had taken shelter in a nearby house after the initial strike. When an ambulance arrived to assist, Israeli forces deployed a stun grenade and gunfire, hindering its ability to provide aid. The ministry criticized this as a “clear double violation” of humanitarian principles.

International Reaction

Clayton Weimer, executive director of Reporters Without Borders, highlighted that the IDF received requests from journalists and the organization to allow ambulances to reach Khalil. He described the situation as “callous disregard,” adding that the obstruction of rescue efforts alongside the targeted killing raises “serious concerns of deliberate action.”

“The Red Cross signalled they were unable to get through because of ongoing Israeli bombardment. So that is callous disregard, on top of what appears to be a deliberate and targeted killing of a journalist,” Weimer said.

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) expressed outrage over Khalil’s death, calling the strikes a “grave breach of international humanitarian law.” CPJ Regional Director Sara Qudah stated that the “repeated attacks on the same location, targeting journalists in shelter, and blocking medical access” demonstrate a pattern of aggression.

Earlier this month, two other journalists were killed in separate Israeli strikes—Ghada Dayekh, a radio presenter, and Suzan Khalil, a TV reporter affiliated with Hezbollah. In 2024, Khalil had reportedly received an “Israeli death threat” warning her to leave southern Lebanon, local media reported. CPJ noted this raised questions about the possibility of intentional targeting.