BEIRUT — A Lebanese journalist has described the moments surrounding an Israeli strike in southern Lebanon that killed reporter Amal Khalil, an incident that has drawn condemnation from press freedom organizations and renewed concerns over journalist safety in conflict zones.
Khalil, a correspondent for the Lebanese newspaper Al-Akhbar, was killed on April 22, 2026, in the village of al-Tiri after taking shelter in a house following an earlier strike nearby, according to the Associated Press, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ).
Reports from Al Jazeera and other media outlets said Khalil had been covering Israeli demolitions and military activity in southern Lebanon when the strikes occurred. Her colleague, Zeinab Faraj, was injured in the same incident. After an initial strike landed near their vehicle, the journalists reportedly moved into a nearby house for shelter, where a second strike later hit the building.
The second strike trapped Khalil under rubble. Rescue operations were delayed due to continued shelling in the area, according to AP and press freedom groups. CPJ and IFJ said efforts to recover her body were hampered by ongoing security conditions.
Press freedom organizations strongly condemned the incident. The CPJ said it was “outraged” by the killing of journalists, while the IFJ called for accountability and protection for media workers operating in conflict zones. AP reported that Khalil had been working with Al-Akhbar since 2006.
Israeli authorities, according to AP, said individuals in the area had violated a ceasefire and denied targeting journalists or obstructing rescue efforts. The circumstances of the strike remain under dispute.
The incident comes amid intensified Israeli military activity in southern Lebanon and increasing risks faced by journalists covering the conflict. AP reported that at least nine journalists have been killed in Lebanon this year, underscoring growing concerns about media safety in the region.
