Journalist Killed in Israeli Airstrike in Southern Lebanon; Lebanese PM Calls It a War Crime

Beirut: A journalist was killed and another seriously injured in an Israeli airstrike in Tyre, southern Lebanon, as the two countries maintain a fragile ceasefire. Amal Khalil, a reporter with Lebanese newspaper Al Akbar, was killed while covering the strikes — making her the fourth journalist killed by Israel in Lebanon since attacks resumed in March. Freelance photojournalist Zainab Faraj was identified as the second journalist injured in the strike, which hit a building where media personnel had taken shelter.

Lebanese authorities further alleged that Israeli forces opened fire on Red Cross workers attempting to evacuate Zainab to hospital, obstructing the rescue operation. A subsequent rescue team was also reportedly attacked.

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam condemned the strikes in the strongest terms, describing the targeting of journalists, the obstruction of rescue workers, and the subsequent attack on a second rescue team as war crimes. "Targeting journalists and preventing rescuers from reaching them, then attacking the rescue teams that subsequently arrived, are war crimes. Attacks on journalists are not isolated incidents," he wrote on X.

Israel denied obstructing rescue efforts and said an investigation was underway, claiming its forces had targeted vehicles coming from a military facility used by Hezbollah.

The United Nations and the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) both condemned the attack. CPJ Regional Director Sara Khuda held the Israeli military responsible for Amal Khalil's death and Zainab Faraj's injuries. According to CPJ data, two-thirds of journalists killed in 2025 have died in Israeli military strikes.

The attack occurred during a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah in effect since last Friday, brokered following intense strikes in early March. US President Donald Trump had announced a ten-day ceasefire on April 16. Second-round talks between Israeli and Lebanese officials are scheduled to take place in Washington on Thursday.