Lebanon Alleges Israel Deliberately Targeted Journalist Killed in Airstrike

Lebanon has accused Israel of committing war crimes following a deadly air strike in the south that killed a journalist and injured another.

Prime Minister Nawaf Salam condemned the attack, saying it deliberately targeted media workers. The strike claimed the life of Amal Khalil, a journalist with Al-Akhbar, while freelance photographer Zeinab Faraj was wounded.

Lebanese officials allege the journalists were intentionally struck after seeking shelter in a house when an earlier air raid hit a nearby vehicle, killing two men. Authorities further claim that an ambulance attempting to reach the scene was also targeted, preventing emergency responders from assisting the victims.

The Israel Defense Forces denied the accusations, stating it does not target journalists and had not blocked rescue teams. It said the strike was directed at individuals it identified as a threat after they moved from a Hezbollah-linked military site toward Israeli forces.

The International Watchdog Committee to Protect Journalists expressed outrage over Khalil’s death, pointing to repeated strikes in the same area and the reported obstruction of medical aid as potential violations of international humanitarian law. The group also cited earlier reports suggesting Khalil had received threats warning her to leave southern Lebanon.

The incident adds to a growing number of journalist casualties in the conflict. In recent weeks, several reporters, including Ghada Dayekh and Suzan Khalil, were killed in separate Israeli strikes. Earlier, three more media workers died in an attack in Jezzine, with Israel claiming some were affiliated with Hezbollah.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun described the killings as a blatant violation of international law, stressing that journalists are civilians carrying out their professional duties.

Since the latest escalation began, Lebanese authorities report that at least 2,475 people have been killed and more than 7,500 injured. The health ministry also says dozens of medical workers and multiple ambulances have been hit. According to the CPJ, at least seven journalists have died in Lebanon during the conflict.

Israel, meanwhile, says attacks by Hezbollah have killed civilians and soldiers, and accuses the group of breaching a fragile ceasefire.

Despite ongoing violence, diplomatic efforts continue. Talks facilitated by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio recently brought Lebanese and Israeli representatives together, leading to a temporary cessation of hostilities. Lebanon is now pushing for an extension of the truce while calling for a full Israeli withdrawal and the start of reconstruction efforts.

Salam vowed that Lebanon would pursue accountability through international legal channels, insisting that repeated attacks on journalists reflect a deliberate pattern.