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Journalist Killed, Another Wounded in Southern Lebanon Airstrike
A Lebanese journalist was killed and a second wounded in an airstrike in southern Lebanon on Wednesday, April 22, 2026. The incident occurred in the village of al-Tiri (also reported as al-Tayri), approximately eight kilometers from the Israel-Lebanon border. The attack came just five days after a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah was implemented.
The death brings the number of journalists killed in Lebanon since the start of the current conflict on March 2, 2026, to nine, according to Lebanon's information ministry.
Timeline and Incident Details
Initial Attack: Journalists Amal Khalil, a reporter for Al-Akhbar, and Zeinab Faraj, a freelance photojournalist, were covering the conflict. They were traveling in a vehicle behind a relative's car when the lead vehicle was hit by an airstrike. Two people were killed in that strike, according to the Lebanese health ministry. The journalists stopped, exited their vehicle, and took cover in or by a roadside building.
Subsequent Strikes: Approximately one hour later, a second strike destroyed the journalists' car. The two women then took refuge inside the roadside building. Reports indicate a third strike later hit the building where they were sheltering. Lebanese officials described the sequence as a "double-tap" strike.
Casualties: Faraj was seriously wounded, sustaining head injuries, and was later rescued. Khalil was trapped under the rubble. She was last heard from at approximately 4:10 p.m. local time when she contacted her family and the Lebanese military.
Rescue Efforts and Reported Obstruction:
Rescue workers from the Lebanese Red Cross and other teams arrived at the scene. According to the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health, rescue teams withdrew due to Israeli fire. The Lebanese health ministry stated that Israeli forces opened fire on a Red Cross ambulance attempting to reach Khalil, forcing it to turn back.
- The Israeli military stated that individuals in the village had violated the ceasefire, endangering its troops. It denied targeting journalists or preventing rescue teams from reaching the area and said the incident is under review.
- Faraj was evacuated and the bodies of the two people killed in the first strike were recovered.
- The Red Cross reported requiring authorization from Israeli forces to re-enter the site to search for Khalil.
- Following clearance coordinated between the Lebanese army, civil defense, and the Red Cross, Khalil's body was recovered from the rubble approximately six to seven hours after the initial strike.
Statements and Reactions
"The Israeli Defense Forces apparently targeted the journalists."
— Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ)
- Israeli Military: Stated the incident is under review and denied targeting journalists. It said it acted in response to individuals violating the ceasefire.
- Lebanese Government: President Joseph Aoun reportedly accused Israel of deliberately targeting journalists. Information Minister Paul Morcos described the killing as a crime and a violation of international and humanitarian law.
- Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ): Expressed outrage and called for an investigation. The CPJ warned that the obstruction of rescue efforts may constitute a grave breach of international humanitarian law. The CPJ stated that it emailed the IDF press office for comment but did not receive an immediate reply.
Context and Background
- Current Conflict: The latest conflict between Israel and Hezbollah began on March 2, 2026. Since then, nearly 2,500 people have been killed in Lebanon. Fifteen Israeli soldiers and three civilians have also been killed.
- Ceasefire: Khalil's death occurred amidst a fragile ceasefire. Both sides have continued to launch strikes since its implementation. Israeli forces have reportedly occupied a border strip approximately 10 km into Lebanon, describing it as a buffer zone.
- Previous Threats: Khalil reportedly received threatening messages from an Israeli phone number during her coverage of the 2024 conflict. Days before her death, an Israeli army spokesperson posted a video of Khalil online, labeling the newspaper she worked for as "terrorist media."
- Previous Incident: In late March 2026, three other journalists were killed in a separate Israeli strike in southern Lebanon. The Israeli military confirmed it had targeted one of them, Ali Shoeib, accusing him of being a "terrorist" acting under the guise of a journalist. It did not provide evidence for this claim.