Amal Khalil, a 43-year-old journalist for the Lebanese newspaper Al-Akhbar, was killed in an Israeli airstrike in southern Lebanon on Wednesday. Freelance photographer Zeinab Faraj was also wounded in the attack. The strike occurred near the town of Al-Tayri, where Khalil and Faraj were sheltering after an initial strike hit a vehicle in front of them, killing two civilians.
Lebanese officials, including Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, accused Israel of war crimes, alleging that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) deliberately targeted journalists and obstructed rescue efforts. The Lebanese Union of Journalists claimed that ambulance crews were prevented from reaching the site for nearly four hours. The Lebanese Health Ministry further stated that the IDF pursued Khalil and Faraj, targeting the house where they sought shelter.
The IDF denied targeting journalists, stating that it does not intentionally harm media personnel. In a statement, the IDF said it identified two vehicles that had departed from a Hezbollah military structure and approached Israeli troops in a manner that posed an immediate threat. The IDF claimed it struck one of the vehicles and the structure from which the individuals had fled, but denied preventing rescue teams from accessing the area.
The incident has reignited tensions between Israel and Lebanon, with Lebanese officials vowing to pursue the matter through international forums. The death of Khalil marks the ninth journalist killed in Lebanon this year, raising concerns about the safety of media workers in conflict zones.