In brief
Lebanon's Prime Minister has condemned Israeli air strikes that killed journalist Amal Khalil and injured another, accusing Israel of war crimes and intentional targeting of press. The Israeli Defense Forces denied targeting media and claimed to have acted under perceived threats.
Lebanon's Prime Minister has accused Israel of war crimes following an air strike that killed journalist Amal Khalil and wounded freelance photographer Zeinab Faraj in southern Lebanon. The strike, which took place on Wednesday, was described as a deliberate act against media workers by Lebanese officials. They claim Khalil and Faraj were targeted while seeking shelter after an initial air strike struck the vehicle near them, resulting in two deaths from that incident.The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), however, denied these accusations, asserting that they do not target journalists and claiming to have acted against vehicles posing an immediate threat to their troops.Officials in Lebanon stated that the air strike followed a sequence of attacks on journalists, including accusations that the IDF targeted an ambulance attempting to assist the wounded. Prime Minister Nawaf Salam stated that such actions amount to war crimes and emphasized that Lebanon would seek justice through international channels.As journalists gathered to remember Khalil, who worked for the Lebanese newspaper Al-Akhbar, The U.S.-based Committee to Protect Journalists condemned the attack, labeling it a grave breach of international humanitarian law. The IDF has acknowledged injuries sustained by journalists during these strikes but has not admitted responsibility for Khalil's death.Historically, the region has seen repeated conflicts where journalists have been placed in harm's way. Reports indicate that at least seven journalists have been killed in recent Israeli attacks in Lebanon, raising significant alarm over the safety of media personnel in conflict zones.
