Lebanese Journalist Killed in Israeli Drone Strike Amid Ceasefire Strains

Lebanese journalist Amal Khalil was killed on April 22 in southern Lebanon while reporting on the aftermath of an Israeli drone strike near the village of Al-Tiri, as a fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah faced mounting strains from cross-border incidents.

Khalil, a veteran reporter for Al-Akhbar who had documented life in southern Lebanon for two decades, was traveling with freelance photographer Zeinab Faraj when a drone struck a civilian vehicle ahead of them. The two women took shelter in a nearby building, but it was hit minutes later. Faraj was rescued wounded by a Red Cross team after delays, while Khalil died trapped under debris. Lebanese officials and Khalil's employer reported that emergency crews faced gunfire and stun grenades for seven hours, hindering access to the site. Prior to her death, Khalil had received threats, including a September 2024 text from an Israeli security number with her location coordinates and a warning, as well as a call from someone claiming Mossad affiliation.

The incident marked at least the 17th journalist killed by Israeli fire in Lebanon since October 2023, according to local reports. Israeli officials described Khalil's...