Journalist Killed in Israeli Strike While Reporting

A Lebanese journalist, Amal Khalil, was killed on Wednesday when an Israeli airstrike hit a house in southern Lebanon where she was sheltering. Khalil, a reporter for the daily Al-Akhbar, had been covering the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hezbollah.

She had sought refuge in the house in al-Tiri following an earlier airstrike near her car. While rescue workers were able to extract another wounded colleague, Zeinab Faraj, attempts to reach Khalil were allegedly obstructed by Israeli forces, according to the Lebanese health ministry.

Her body was eventually recovered late Wednesday, hours after the strike, by the Lebanese army and civil defense. Israel stated that individuals in the village had violated a ceasefire and denied targeting journalists or preventing rescue teams, adding the incident is under review.

Lebanon's Information Minister Paul Morcos condemned the killing as a crime and violation of international law. Khalil's death occurred as direct talks between Israeli and Lebanese officials were scheduled to resume in Washington regarding a ceasefire extension.

This incident marks the latest in a series of journalist deaths in Lebanon this year. At least nine journalists have been killed, and over 1 million people displaced since the current war began on March 2. International organizations, including Reporters Without Borders and the Committee to Protect Journalists, have voiced outrage and called for accountability.