A Lebanese journalist was killed in an Israeli airstrike on a house in southern Lebanon, according to the Associated Press. The journalist had taken shelter inside the house while reporting on the war. The incident has drawn attention amid the ongoing Israel-Hezbollah conflict and concerns over journalist safety in conflict zones.
Journalist Amal Khalil Killed in South Lebanon Strike
The journalist, identified as Amal Khalil, died in a strike in the village of Al-Tiri. She had taken shelter in the house after an earlier strike landed in front of her while she travelled with a colleague, Zeinab Faraj, during coverage of the conflict.
The initial strike killed two people. Khalil and Faraj then moved into the house for protection. Soon after, another strike hit the same location. That second strike killed Khalil.
Body Recovered Hours After Strike
Rescue teams found Khalil trapped under debris for several hours. Units of the Lebanese army, civil defence teams, and the Red Cross reached the site later. They recovered her body around midnight, according to the Associated Press.
Israel Denies Targeting Journalists
Israel said individuals in the village had violated the ceasefire and posed a threat to its forces. The military denied targeting journalists or blocking rescue efforts and stated that it is reviewing the incident.
Lebanon Officials Condemn Killing
Lebanon’s Information Minister Paul Morcos condemned the killing and called it a violation of international and humanitarian law.
Lebanon’s Prime Minister Nawaf Salam accused Israel of war crimes. In a post on X, he said attacks on media workers in southern Lebanon have become a pattern and must be condemned.
Earlier Strikes Killed Journalists in March
In late March, an Israeli airstrike in southern Lebanon killed three journalists covering the conflict. Al-Manar TV said its correspondent Ali Shoeib was among those killed. Israel claimed it targeted Shoeib, accusing him of links to Hezbollah intelligence, but did not provide evidence.
The same strike also killed reporter Fatima Ftouni, who worked for Al-Mayadeen TV, along with her brother Mohammed Ftouni.
Days earlier, another Israeli airstrike on an apartment in Beirut killed Mohammed Sherri, head of political programmes at Al-Manar TV, along with his wife.
