Lebanon Accuses Israel of War Crimes After Journalist Amal Khalil Killed

Published: 23 April 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam has formally accused Israel of committing “war crimes” following a series of air strikes in southern Lebanon that killed a prominent journalist and wounded several others. The victim, identified as Amal Khalil, 43, a reporter for the Lebanese daily Al-Akhbar, was killed on Wednesday near the town of at-Tiri. The incident, which occurred during a fragile 10-day ceasefire, has sparked international outrage and intensified scrutiny over the safety of media workers in the escalating regional conflict.

According to witnesses and the Lebanese Health Ministry, Khalil and freelance photographer Zeinab Faraj were traveling to the site of an earlier drone strike when the vehicle directly in front of them was hit. Seeking safety, the two journalists fled into a nearby residential building. Minutes later, that building was also targeted by an Israeli air strike. While Faraj was rescued from the rubble with a serious head wound, Khalil was trapped beneath the debris. Lebanese officials further accused the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) of obstructing rescue efforts, alleging that a sound grenade and live ammunition were fired at an approaching Red Cross ambulance, delaying life-saving intervention for several hours.

The IDF’s Arabic-language spokesperson, Ella Waweya, stated that the military had identified “two vehicles leaving a military building used by Hezbollah” and that the individuals approached Israeli forces “in a manner constituting an immediate threat.” While the IDF confirmed its aircraft struck the vehicle and a building where individuals had sought refuge, it maintained that it “does not target journalists” and that the incident is currently under review. This justification has been met with fierce skepticism in Beirut, where officials pointed out that Khalil was a veteran journalist clearly identifiable as a member of the press.

The death of Amal Khalil marks the fourth media worker killed by Israeli strikes in Lebanon since March, joining a growing list that includes Ghada Dayekh, Suzan Khalil, and Ali Shoeib. Prime Minister Salam emphasized that the “deliberate targeting of journalists and the obstruction of relief efforts” would be pursued before relevant international bodies. Human rights advocates have echoed these sentiments, noting that Wednesday was the deadliest day in Lebanon since the ceasefire was announced on April 16, with a total of five people killed in various strikes across the south.

As the body of Amal Khalil was recovered from the ruins of at-Tiri and transported to her hometown for burial, the incident has cast a dark shadow over the prospects for a lasting peace. For the Lebanese press corps, the loss of a colleague under such circumstances is a chilling reminder of the risks faced by those attempting to document the conflict. “This is not an accident; it is a pattern,” said Elsy Moufarrej, head of the Union of Journalists in Lebanon. With the ceasefire now teetering on the edge of collapse, the “blatant crime” in at-Tiri has become a rallying point for those demanding greater international protection for civilians caught in the crossfire of the Middle East’s widening war.

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