Lebanon says Israel targeted journalist killed in airstrike

Amal Khalil, a journalist for Lebanon’s Al-Akhbar newspaper, died when an Israeli airstrike hit the home where she was seeking shelter. Lebanon has alleged that Israel intentionally targeted media personnel as part of a systematic strategy, a claim the Israeli military has denied. Prime Minister Nawaf Salam criticized Israel’s actions, calling them war crimes, following Khalil’s death during her reporting in southern Lebanon.

Incident Details and Rescue Efforts

Khalil and her colleague, photographer Zeinab Faraj, were documenting events in al-Tiri when an Israeli strike targeted their vehicle. The Lebanese Health Ministry confirmed that the pair retreated to a nearby house, which was also struck. Rescue teams reached Faraj, who sustained severe injuries, but were forced to halt their efforts due to Israeli gunfire. This prompted Reporters Without Borders to demand international pressure on Israel to permit Khalil’s rescue.

“Targeting journalists, hindering relief teams’ access to them, and even attacking their locations after aid has arrived constitutes war crimes,” said Salam in a post on X.

Israel’s Response and Ceasefire Context

Israel rejected accusations of blocking rescue operations, stating it does not target media workers. The military noted that the incident was under review and cited al-Tiri residents for violating the ceasefire. A 10-day truce, initiated on April 16 to halt hostilities with Hezbollah, has seen ongoing exchanges of fire. Hezbollah, an Iran-backed Shiite group, is labeled a terrorist organization by Israel, the U.S., Germany, and several Sunni Arab nations, with the EU specifically designating its armed wing as such.

International Meetings and Journalist Casualties

Israeli and Lebanese officials were to meet in Washington on Thursday for renewed ceasefire talks. Khalil, from southern Lebanon, had been reporting on the conflict with Hezbollah, which intensified in March after the U.S.-Israel war against Iran began. Her death raises the count of journalists killed in Lebanon this year to nine. The Committee to Protect Journalists condemned the apparent targeting of the pair, warning that obstructing rescue efforts “may amount to a war crime.”

Lebanon vowed to pursue the alleged crimes through international forums, expressing condolences to Khalil’s family. The incident has intensified scrutiny of Israel’s conduct in the region, with calls for accountability growing louder amid continued clashes under the fragile ceasefire agreement.