BEIRUT — Tensions between Lebanon and Israel have escalated sharply following an airstrike in the southern village of Tayri that claimed the life of a veteran journalist and left another critically wounded.
Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam has formally accused the Israeli military of committing war crimes, asserting that the targeting of media workers has become a systematic tactic.
The Incident in Tayri
The strike killed Amal Khalil, a well-known reporter for the Lebanese daily Al-Akhbar. Reports indicate that Khalil and freelance photojournalist Zeinab Faraj had sought shelter in a building during a wave of aerial bombardments when the structure was hit. While Khalil was killed instantly, Faraj was pulled from the rubble with life-threatening injuries.
The tragedy was further intensified by reports of obstructed rescue efforts. According to Lebanon’s National News Agency (NNA), Israeli forces allegedly fired upon emergency responders, forcing Red Cross volunteers to evacuate the wounded Faraj under "hostile gunfire."
CPJ: Evidence of Deliberate Targeting
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has issued a scathing condemnation, suggesting the attack may have been premeditated. The organization highlighted that Khalil had reportedly received a direct death threat attributed to the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) in late 2024.
"We are alarmed by reports that Khalil had received a direct death threat... raising serious concerns of deliberate targeting," the CPJ stated. The group added that the obstruction of rescue teams is a violation of international law that "may amount to a war crime."
Israel Cites Hezbollah Activity
In response, the Israeli military maintained that it "does not target journalists" and claimed the strike was directed at a "military structure" used by Hezbollah. The IDF stated that its troops identified "terrorists" in vehicles acting in a threatening manner and engaged the building into which they fled. The military also disputed the claims that they blocked medical access, noting the incident is currently under review.
Diplomacy Under Fire
The killings occur during a fragile 10-day ceasefire brokered by the United States, intended to pause the broader conflict involving Hezbollah. Despite the outcry and the Lebanese government's vow to seek international accountability, a second round of peace negotiations is still expected to proceed this Thursday in Washington, D.C.
Amal Khalil is the fourth journalist to be killed by Israeli fire in Lebanon since March 2026, a trend that UN experts and human rights groups warn is creating a "deadly vacuum" of information in the conflict zone.
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