Israel accused of killing Lebanese journalist Amal Khalil in cross-border incident

Lebanese Journalist Amal Khalil Killed in Air Strike, Colleague Injured

A Lebanese air strike in the village of al-Tayri in southern Lebanon has resulted in the death of journalist Amal Khalil and injury to her colleague Zeinab Faraj. The incident occurred on Wednesday when Khalil and Faraj were reporting on an earlier Israeli attack on a vehicle.

According to reports, Khalil called her family members and the Lebanese military at approximately 4:10pm local time before taking cover inside a house. However, rescue workers initially attempted to reach her but came under fire from Israeli forces and withdrew. A second strike then hit the house where the two journalists had sought refuge.

Khalil’s body was recovered shortly before midnight, more than seven hours after the attack. Faraj was seriously wounded and rescued by paramedics. The Lebanese Ministry of Public Health reported that rescue workers were initially prevented from reaching Khalil due to Israeli fire.

Lebanese officials have described the incident as a “double-tap” strike. This is the ninth time a journalist has been killed in Lebanon this year. Amal Khalil, 39, was a veteran journalist who had covered the region for Al Akhbar since the 2006 war. Her reporting focused on Israeli demolitions of homes in villages where Israeli troops are positioned inside Lebanon.

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has issued a statement condemning Khalil’s killing and calling for an investigation into Israel’s actions. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun has offered condolences to Khalil’s family and wished Faraj a swift recovery. The incident has sparked international condemnation, with many calling for action to be taken against those responsible.

Source: Al Jazeera