Lebanese journalist Amal Khalil was killed on Wednesday in an Israeli airstrike in southern Lebanon, an incident that has drawn widespread condemnation and renewed calls for protection of journalists in conflict zones. Khalil, 43, who worked for the Al Akhbar newspaper and was known for her support of resistance movements against Israel, was targeted in the village of al-Tiri during sustained Israeli military operations.

According to Lebanese authorities and her employer, Khalil and a colleague, freelance photographer Zeinab Faraj, were traveling in a vehicle that was hit by an initial Israeli strike, killing two others and injuring them both. The two sought refuge inside a nearby house, which was subsequently struck again by Israeli forces. Rescue efforts to retrieve Khalil were hindered for hours as Israeli troops allegedly fired on those attempting to assist, preventing timely medical aid. The Union of Journalists in Lebanon reported that stun grenades were used to obstruct rescuers, and Khalil’s body was recovered after nearly six hours under debris.

The Israeli military acknowledged conducting airstrikes in the area but denied deliberately targeting journalists or obstructing rescue teams. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated that the vehicles involved had departed from a location used by Hezbollah and that one vehicle had posed an immediate security threat by crossing a forward defense line. The IDF said it was reviewing the incident but did not provide evidence supporting its claims. Historically, Israeli military investigations have rarely attributed responsibility for journalist casualties to their forces, often suggesting journalists were embedded with armed groups.

Khalil had reported receiving death threats from unidentified Israeli numbers earlier this year, warning her to leave southern Lebanon and threatening severe harm, including destruction of her home. She informed relevant authorities of the threats, noting a pattern of such intimidation tactics targeting others in the region. The exact source of these messages has not been confirmed.

International media rights organizations condemned the attack. Reporters Without Borders highlighted that the IDF had been contacted by journalists and humanitarian groups requesting safe ambulance access to Khalil, but these efforts were blocked due to ongoing bombardment. Its executive director, Clayton Weimer, described the incident as a callous disregard for life alongside a targeted killing. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) characterized the multiple strikes on the same location, the targeting of journalists’ shelter, and the obstruction of medical access as grave violations of international humanitarian law, holding Israeli forces responsible for Khalil’s death and Faraj’s injuries. CPJ regional director Sara Qudah described the military’s actions as brutal and part of a recurring pattern seen in both Gaza and Lebanon.

The killing of Khalil marks the ninth journalist death in Lebanon this year and follows attacks that have repeatedly endangered media workers in the region. Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam condemned the targeting of journalists and interference with aid workers, calling such acts war crimes.

Amid this incident, separate reports have emerged of widespread looting by Israeli soldiers during operations in southern Lebanon. Investigations have revealed theft of various civilian items, with claims that some officers were aware but failed to stop the behavior. The IDF stated that disciplinary and criminal measures are applied when appropriate and that military police monitor withdrawals across the northern border crossing.

On Thursday, a funeral was held in Lebanon to mourn Amal Khalil’s death as the broader conflict between Israel and Hezbollah continued, with a truce extension offering a temporary respite. The circumstances surrounding her death and the broader challenges facing journalists in conflict zones remain a subject of international concern and scrutiny.