Lebanese political leaders have accused Israel of committing a war crime following an airstrike that killed a Lebanese journalist in the country's south, according to reporting by France 24's Renée Davis from Beirut.
Rescuers and the journalist's employer confirmed Wednesday the death of Amal Khalil, a 42-year-old reporter who worked for the Lebanese daily newspaper Al-Akhbar. The incident drew immediate condemnation from Lebanese officials.
The Israeli army said it was reviewing the incident, offering no further immediate comment on the strike or whether Khalil had been identified as a journalist at the time of the attack.
Political fallout in Beirut
Lebanon's leadership moved swiftly to characterize the killing as a violation of international law. Targeting journalists is prohibited under international humanitarian law, which classifies members of the press as civilians entitled to protection in conflict zones.
The death of Khalil adds to growing international concern over the safety of journalists operating in Lebanon and across the broader region, where conflict has intensified in recent years. Press freedom organizations have repeatedly documented the dangers faced by reporters covering the ongoing hostilities.
Ongoing tensions in southern Lebanon
Southern Lebanon has remained a focal point of military activity, with periodic Israeli strikes continuing despite a ceasefire agreement reached in late 2024. Journalists working in the region have faced considerable risks while attempting to document conditions on the ground.
Al-Akhbar, the Beirut-based newspaper for which Khalil worked, has been a prominent outlet covering the conflict in the south. The paper confirmed her death alongside emergency responders who recovered her following the strike.
The Israeli military's standard practice in such cases involves an internal review process, though the outcomes of those reviews are not always made public. Lebanese officials, however, did not wait for those findings before issuing their accusations.
The incident is likely to draw scrutiny from international press freedom groups and may prompt calls for an independent investigation into the circumstances of the strike. No such formal process had been announced as of the time of reporting.
