Lebanese Journalist Killed In Israeli Strike During Fragile Truce In South Lebanon

Last Updated:April 24, 2026, 16:00 IST

Mourners gather as colleagues and officials question whether media workers are being targeted

Lebanese journalist Amal Khalil was killed in an Israeli airstrike in southern Lebanon on Wednesday, even as a fragile ceasefire remained in place, according to local officials and her employer.

According to a New York Times report, Khalil, a reporter with the newspaper Al-Akhbar, was in the village of Tayri when the strike hit. She was trapped under rubble for several hours before emergency teams were able to recover her body, Lebanon’s Civil Defense said.

A photojournalist travelling with her, Zeinab Faraj, survived the incident after being rescued from the same location.

According to Lebanese health authorities, the journalists had taken shelter inside a house after an earlier airstrike hit a vehicle near them. Around 90 minutes later, a second strike hit the house where they were hiding.

The Israeli military said the incident is under review. In a statement, it said its forces had identified two vehicles leaving a site it described as a Hezbollah-linked military building and crossing what it called a forward defence line, which it viewed as a violation of the truce.

However, Khalil’s employer, Lebanese officials and international media watchdogs disputed that account. They condemned the strike, saying it raised serious concerns about the safety of journalists working in conflict zones.

Lebanon’s prime minister and the Committee to Protect Journalists were among those who criticised the attack, with calls for accountability and protection for media workers.

Khalil had spent more than two decades reporting from southern Lebanon, covering repeated conflicts between Israel and Hezbollah. Colleagues described her as a committed and fearless reporter who continued working on the ground despite the risks.

At her family home, mourners gathered to pay their respects, with many expressing anger over what they saw as a violation of the ceasefire and a failure to protect civilians.

Her brother, Ali Khalil, said she had spent years moving from village to village reporting on the conflict, rarely staying in one place.

Israel has continued strikes in southern Lebanon during the truce, saying it is targeting Hezbollah positions and acting in self-defence. But events such as these are only increasing tensions, with opponents claiming that the distinction between military targets and civilian peril has become increasingly blurry.

The death of Khalil has once again highlighted the risks posed to journalists operating in areas of active warfare, despite their efforts to be recognized as non-combatants.

News viral Lebanese Journalist Killed In Israeli Strike During Fragile Truce In South Lebanon

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