BEIRUT: Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon on Wednesday killed Lebanese journalist Amal Khalil and wounded a photographer accompanying her, according to a senior Lebanese military official and her employer, Al-Akhbar newspaper.
There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military on Khalil’s death. Earlier, it said it had received reports that two journalists were injured in the strikes. Khalil, 43, was killed while covering developments near the town of al-Tayri alongside freelance photographer Zeinab Faraj.
A strike hit a vehicle in front of them, after which they ran into a nearby house that was also struck, according to Lebanon’s health ministry and officials. Faraj was rescued with a head injury. When rescuers attempted to reach Khalil, they were reportedly obstructed, delaying access to the site. Her body was recovered hours later from the rubble. Lebanon’s Prime Minister Nawaf Salam condemned the incident, calling the targeting of journalists and obstruction of rescue efforts “war crimes,” and said Lebanon would pursue the matter internationally.
The Israeli military denied preventing rescue teams and said it does not target journalists. It stated the strikes were carried out after identifying vehicles leaving a site linked to Hezbollah and approaching troops in a manner deemed threatening. The day marked the deadliest since a 10-day ceasefire began on April 16, with at least five people reported killed. Lebanese authorities say more than 2,400 people have been killed since Israel launched its offensive following a March 2 attack by Hezbollah.
