Lebanese Prime Minister Accuses Israel of War Crimes Following Journalist's Death in Airstrike
Lebanon's Prime Minister Nawaf Salam has accused Israel of committing war crimes after an Israeli airstrike in southern Lebanon resulted in the death of journalist Amal Khalil and injuries to another reporter.
Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam has accused Israel of committing war crimes following an Israeli airstrike in southern Lebanon that killed journalist Amal Khalil and injured another reporter. Khalil, a veteran journalist for the daily Al-Akhbar, was killed in the village of al-Tiri while covering the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hezbollah. She had sought shelter in a house after an earlier nearby strike, which was subsequently targeted by a second Israeli airstrike. Her colleague, freelance photojournalist Zeinab Faraj, was seriously injured in the attack.
Salam condemned the targeting of journalists and the obstruction of rescue teams, stating that such actions constitute "clear war crimes." He emphasized that attacks on media workers have become a "documented pattern" that violates international laws and norms.
The Israeli military acknowledged reports of injured journalists and stated that the incident is under review. They emphasized that the military "does not target journalists" and "acts to mitigate harm to them," adding that they did not prevent rescue teams from reaching the area.
This incident occurred amid a fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, which has been in place since April 16. Despite the truce, violence continues in southern Lebanon, with ongoing clashes and destruction reported in the region.
The death of Khalil brings the number of journalists killed in Lebanon this year to nine, highlighting the increasing dangers faced by media workers in conflict zones.