Israeli strike kills Lebanese journalist despite ceasefire
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Thu, 04/23/2026 - 07:25
Second strike hits area where reporters were sheltering, as violations continue in southern Lebanon
Amal Khalil, 43, was killed in the town of al-Tayri while covering the aftermath of earlier Israeli attacks in southern Lebanon on 22 April 2026 (Al Akhbar)
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An Israeli air strike killed a Lebanese journalist and wounded another on Wednesday in southern Lebanon, despite a US-backed ceasefire announced last week.
Amal Khalil, 43, was killed in the town of al-Tayri while covering the aftermath of earlier Israeli attacks alongside freelance photographer Zeinab Faraj, who was wounded.
According to reports, an initial air strike hit a car in front of them, prompting the pair to take shelter in a nearby house.
A second strike then hit the house, Lebanon’s health ministry and other sources said.
Rescuers managed to retrieve Faraj, who sustained a head injury.
When they returned for Khalil, Israeli forces opened fire on the ambulance and deployed a stun grenade, preventing access to her, according to the health ministry.
Rescuers were only able to reach her hours later, finding her dead.
Lebanon’s Prime Minister Nawaf Salam described the attack as a “war crime” and vowed to “spare no effort in pursuing these crimes before the relevant international bodies”.
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Khalil’s employer, the daily Al-Akhbar, mourned her death and said she had received threats from unknown sources in 2024.
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) said it was “outraged” by the attack.
“The repeated strikes on the same location, the targeting of an area where journalists were sheltering, and the obstruction of medical and humanitarian access constitute a grave breach of international humanitarian law,” said CPJ regional director Sara Qudah.
“CPJ holds Israeli forces responsible for the endangerment of Amal Khalil’s life and the injuries sustained by Zeinab Faraj.”
Khalil was among seven people killed in Israeli strikes on Wednesday, the highest daily toll since the ceasefire was announced. The 10-day truce is set to expire on Sunday.
Israel has continued strikes in southern Lebanon, alongside home demolitions and ground raids, despite the ceasefire.
Following repeated violations, Hezbollah launched rockets and drones at Israel earlier this week.
Israel's targeting of journalists, while longstanding, has intensified sharply since October 2023.
In Gaza, Israeli forces have killed at least 262 journalists during the genocide, while at least 22 media workers have been killed in Lebanon.
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